Update: St. Bridget of Erin was not the first Irish Roman Catholic parish torn down in St. Louis. St. Columbkille was demolished in the 1950s.
A Blog detailing the beauty of St. Louis architecture and the buildup of residue-or character-that accumulates over the course of time.
Update: St. Bridget of Erin was not the first Irish Roman Catholic parish torn down in St. Louis. St. Columbkille was demolished in the 1950s.
I saw this on my way to my local barber shop last night. it was a bit of a shock because I’ve always liked the aesthetic of that church/school. sad to see it go.
Another piece of the Kerry patch is gone forever. There is almost no trace of the Irish settlers left here in north St. Louis. Why was this allowed to happen, I thought the school was using it for chapel services?
After viewing this post and commenting this morning, I’ve been feeling very disgusted all morning. I did not see this coming, and hadn’t heard any thing about the demolition. The church seems to be in very stable condition and has been used fairly recently. It’s my understanding that early members were buried below the church, what happens to them? I’m very angry with the Archdiociese for allowing this to happen. All of the early immigrants who came to America from Ireland and lived in squalor and poverty who literally gave to the church till it hurt and made numerous sacrifices so that beautiful churches like this could be built and now all of that sacrifice means nothing and their history an memory are being erased. It seems like no one cares, just like the Clemmons mansion, there are people who would put up the money and save this piece of important history but there are always obstacles put in their way. It’s like Chris said before, about the architecture being like a smile and when all the teeth are knocked out they can never be replaced. I think the city and the Archdioceise ‘s greed caused this
Another Catholic Church from growing up in North St. Louis is torn down . What’s left ? I guess they can still find more to tear down. It make’s me so mad I still remember how much history I-70 took away as it was built.
This is the perfect way to break down this inifmratoon.
Agree with Tim and David. The Catholic Church has a lot to answer for.
Hey all, one thing to clarify: the Archdiocese sold the church property to a non-profit. I don’t think this is what they had in mind for the new owners’ plans for the building.
When I saw that was getting knocked down, even though I’d never been familiar with that church, I went and was able to get a couple of bricks from the pile. (I didn’t steal them, I asked a guy on the demolition crew who got them for me.) As I was standing there, another two people pulled up for the same thing. I talked briefly to one lady, maybe in her late 60’s, and she told me that her parents had gotten married in that church 70 years ago and she had to get a brick.
Makes me think that I hope to hell other, more unique items were saved in some way from the church. Ugh.
De La Salle, the non-profit who bought St. Bridgets, is a Catholic group and I doubt the Archdiocese would have any problem with their demolition of St. Bridgets. Apparently the Archdiocese almost tore down St. Bridgets back in the 1950s.
I could see that. I did some research and there was discussion to demolish the church when they built Pruitt-Igoe adjacent to the church. But apparently they changed their mind back then.