Update: After a third and catastrophic fire, the church was demolished except for the belltower.
Sometimes there are things in life that are terrible, and no matter what you do, you can’t change them, and you just have to take it.
I was driving north on the newly smooth Parnell, heading to St. Augustine’s to get some photography done for another project when the church came into view far in the distance.
“Huh, it sure looks strange, like there’s a whole section of roof missing in the middle,” I thought, “I can see too much blue sky to the right of the bell tower…”
Update: Analysis of photographs taken by a third party reveals that the roof was sagging badly before its collapse. Interior compromising of important structural elements due to water infiltration most likely led to the roof failure.
Not only had the whole roof over the nave collapsed, but masonry had tumbled down into a heap in front.
The street had been cleared, but it was obvious the bricks had fallen much further out into it.
The small southern turret has extensive damage, as well. I could only gather that some of the high winds that had swept through the region lately had been the culprit, with the recent fire perhaps being a catalyst.
Regardless, it is bad, very bad. In fact, before I had gotten close enough to see otherwise the damage is so bad I thought the City was in the process of actively demolishing the church. That’s how bad it looks.
Not only did the roof collapse, but it brought down the equivalent of what would be the clerestory; I can’t imagine that the roof structure of the transepts will survive much longer, considering that the apse on the east side has already been weakened by the earlier fire.
I’ve actually added the “Ruins” tag onto this post for the first time for this church.
It’s maybe a little hard to see in these photos, but it’s really horrible to see in person. Sadly, I think it’s at the point where it’s time to say goodbye.
Wow!… My brother graduated from Augustinian Academy in 1970. I wonder if there was any affiliation???
I’m not sure. St. Augustine is a very popular saint in the Catholic Church and thus has many institutions named after him.
Sad photo. Did STL ARCHdIOCESE ABANDON OR SELL THESE OLD CHURCH BUILDINGS?
Good question. There have been several other congregations who have owned the complex in the decades since the Archdiocese suppressed (officially closed) the parish. The LRA currently owns the property.
It’s a shame the copper flashing was stolen years ago accelerating its demise. I’m not sure how much the copper was worth, but for the risks & efforts involved in salvaging it, one would think an honest steady paying job would seem more appealing. I guess the next post will be it’s demolition. St. Louis is loosing too many of it’s irreplaceable landmarks!
I will never understand the vendetta the copper thieves held against this church. There are literally thousands–yes thousands–of vacant buildings in this city where they could have easily–and thousands of times more safely–stolen the same amount of copper, but yet they seemed obsessed with stealing copper from this beauty. The loss of the gutters and flashing destroyed the proper drainage of water, and it was only a matter of time. And yes, barring another dramatic collapse that I will cover, the next post will be about its demolition, sadly.
That is so true. Stealing the copper from this building had to have been very risky. High off the ground and on a steep roof. Copper on these old buildings is attached very well. It was stripped in small sections probably worth $1-200 each time, which I’d guess took about 8 hours.
If you have videos, I have the capability to embed them with your permission and credit line.
Same thing is going to happen to St. Boniface in Carondelet if the homeless drug addicts continue to be allowed to squat in it and continue to steal copper from it to support their drug habits
I’m saddened to hear that St. Boniface is continuing to be vandalized.
Big fire at the church tonight. Will you be photographing the aftermath?
Of course!