St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church, Saint Louis
Saint Mary of Victories Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church situated in downtown Saint Louis. Established in 1843, it is the second Catholic Church to be built in the city and has been designated as a National Register of Historic Places.
Initially, the church was built to serve the spiritual needs of about 500 German immigrant families who had settled in the "Chouteau's Landing" District, a commercial and residential neighborhood in pre-Civil War era Saint Louis. The church played a vital role in providing the German immigrants with a sense of community and identity.
In the 1950s, many of the original families had moved out of the city, and the church saw an influx of refugees from Hungary after World War II and the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. This led to the church being unofficially referred to as the "Hungarian Church" and provided new life to the parish.
The church's architecture is of great significance, designed by George I. Barnett and Franz Saler, two renowned architects, in the early 16th-century Mannerist style. The nave is rectangular and forms a cross with the transept, with the sanctuary at its head. The choir loft is located on the second tier of the two-tier balcony at the rear of the church. The church's ornate wooden-carved organ case and stenciled display pipes are among the oldest in Saint Louis.
The interior of Saint Mary of Victories is equally remarkable, being the first interior in a Saint Louis church whose design was based on liturgical studies. The interior was developed and constructed by Max Schneiderhahn, the first professional church artist in the city. As a German immigrant, Schneiderhahn studied at a German university and two monasteries, bringing the craftsmanship tradition of liturgical art to the Saint Louis area. Schneiderhahn conceived and executed the altars, statuary, steepled baptismal font, communion rail, carvings, and frescoes, along with painting the Stations of the Cross.
Initially, the church was built to serve the spiritual needs of about 500 German immigrant families who had settled in the "Chouteau's Landing" District, a commercial and residential neighborhood in pre-Civil War era Saint Louis. The church played a vital role in providing the German immigrants with a sense of community and identity.
In the 1950s, many of the original families had moved out of the city, and the church saw an influx of refugees from Hungary after World War II and the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. This led to the church being unofficially referred to as the "Hungarian Church" and provided new life to the parish.
The church's architecture is of great significance, designed by George I. Barnett and Franz Saler, two renowned architects, in the early 16th-century Mannerist style. The nave is rectangular and forms a cross with the transept, with the sanctuary at its head. The choir loft is located on the second tier of the two-tier balcony at the rear of the church. The church's ornate wooden-carved organ case and stenciled display pipes are among the oldest in Saint Louis.
The interior of Saint Mary of Victories is equally remarkable, being the first interior in a Saint Louis church whose design was based on liturgical studies. The interior was developed and constructed by Max Schneiderhahn, the first professional church artist in the city. As a German immigrant, Schneiderhahn studied at a German university and two monasteries, bringing the craftsmanship tradition of liturgical art to the Saint Louis area. Schneiderhahn conceived and executed the altars, statuary, steepled baptismal font, communion rail, carvings, and frescoes, along with painting the Stations of the Cross.
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St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church on Map
Sight Name: St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church
Sight Location: Saint Louis, USA (See walking tours in Saint Louis)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Saint Louis, USA (See walking tours in Saint Louis)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Saint Louis, Missouri
Create Your Own Walk in Saint Louis
Creating your own self-guided walk in Saint Louis is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour
Saint Louis, Missouri, is a perfect destination for those with a taste for great architecture, especially if it is associated with an important spiritual value. Indeed, this city features some of the most famous and interesting churches in the USA.
One such landmark is the Saint Mary of Victories Catholic Church. A stunning example of Mannerism architecture, it has been a spiritual hub for the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
One such landmark is the Saint Mary of Victories Catholic Church. A stunning example of Mannerism architecture, it has been a spiritual hub for the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Saint Louis Downtown Walking Tour
Missouri's main city, St. Louis, is a prominent metropolis renowned for its cultural diversity, vibrancy and art. Ahead of the Europeans, the area of today's St. Louis was inhabited by the Native American Mississippian tribes.
French fur traders, who settled on the territory in 1764, named it for King Louis IX of France. That same year, the land was ceded to Spain, and in 1800, was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
French fur traders, who settled on the territory in 1764, named it for King Louis IX of France. That same year, the land was ceded to Spain, and in 1800, was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Forest Park Walking Tour
Forest Park, a massive urban park in Saint Louis, offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. Renowned for its multiple entertaining and educational facilities, such as museums, zoo, and green areas, it is often and quite deservedly regarded as one of the city's crown jewels 鈥� an ideal location for a great time out! Let's see what you can find on the... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles