The Roman Catholic parish of Notre Dame de Lourdes in Wellston, just a stone’s throw from the St. Louis border, was open from 1902 to 1992, when it closed and sold to a Pentecostal church. I am not sure, but at least the adjacent rectory is abandoned, boarded up with faded plywood. Is the church closed, too? I do not know.
It is a fascinating example of early Twentieth Century Romanesque Revival, at a time when many architects were building English Gothic Revival churches. Sadly, the area is suffering from considerable abandonment.
I went to Kindergarten here at the school. I was baptized here as well as my Mom & Dad were married here. Beautiful church. My grandmother would take me often to light candles. Mass was said in Latin. The good ole days for sure! We lived on Delaware. Can’t remember the address.
I went to first and second grade here 1948 and 49
I went to their school from kindergarten through 3 grade. I remember it having one nun that kids prayed they died before she was their teacher, I think she was the 5th grade teacher. The church had great ambiance. I remember it before Vatican 2. The. Priest didn’t face the parishioners in those days and during a certain season ( if I remember correctly) they did Latin services. Nothing better than watching the priest babble on in a language that may have well been Klingon. No idea what he was saying.