A last stop on Gravois Avenue at St. Francis de Sales Church. It dominates the skyline of the area with its spire almost half as high as the Arch. The bulk of the neighborhood's original population was German and the church was designed in that tradition. Its great size led people to call it the Cathedral of South St. Louis, although it has no such official status. You can read an interesting history of the church and its activities here. As with the Bevo Mill in yesterday's post, big changes in population took parishioners away. The Archdiocese of St. Louis decided to close and possible demolish it in 2005. However, an outfit I know nothing about, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (that's a mouthful), took it over. I gather this is a conservative Catholic organization and they still do mass there in Latin. At least the building was preserved. I've never been inside. It looks gorgeous from the web site so I will have to pay a visit.
