cape girardeau girardeau
old st vincents church
Prior to 1880
St. Vincents Church between 1923 and 1951
Present Day
History of the church offers challenge for the future
church
vincents
HISTORY

Cape Girardeau was growing but there was not a church for Christians to gather and pray or have services on Sunday.

Rev. John Timon, a newly ordained Vincentian priest from St. Louis was assigned to work in Perry and Cape Counties. He travelled on horseback, ministering to Catholics and Protestants in this area.

In a warehouse belonging to Don Louis Lorimier, the Spanish Commandant, Father Timon celebrated Mass in 1833. This warehouse, near the Red House, Lorimier's home, became the first temporary church.

Because it was the first established church, both Catholics and Protestants attended these services. The congregation grew quickly and a permanent church was needed..

In 1838 the cornerstone was laid in the first St.Vincent’s church to be 36 feet wide, 69 feet long and 24 feet high, a stone structure distinctly resembling the Old Cathedral on the St. Louis waterfront. Catholicism flourished with the erection of this church yet worshipper of all denominations frequented St.Vincent’s and the congregation grew quickly. The church stood until 1850 when a violent tornado leveled it to the ground.

In just a few months, using the same foundation, the present church was built and completed in 1853. The building contractor was a native of Cape Girardeau, Joseph Lansmon, whose great grandson is a member of Old St.Vincents. Between that time and 1970 the historical records of the church are sketchy; however, it was possible to trace some significant developments, such as:

1900 A spire of undetermined height (but estimated to be four times the size of the church) was erected on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee.

1905 the spire was struck by lightning.

1912 Lightning again hit the tower and it was destroyed by fire.

1926 the present pipe organ was built and installed.

1926 A vestibule at the front entrance was added. 3.5" solid oak doors adorned with hand-carved Biblical figures replaced the simple original front doors.

1935 Church Renovated.

1952 Church completely renovated.
From the Lueders Collection, courtesy of Southeast Missouri State University Archives, Cape Girardeau MO.

Image taken from undated copy print.   Interior of Old St. Vincent's Church, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
Note the doors on the pews.
1850 Lithograph of
St. Vincent's Church
National Registry
Mississippi River
Close up of the altar from the photo directly above.
church
One of the first altars after 1853,
exact date unknown.
Catholic
From the Lueders Collection, courtesy of Southeast Missouri State University Archives, Cape Girardeau MO.

Image taken from photographic reproduction of a postcard postmarked 1907.
st vincents
Old St. Vincents during one of the many floods. Note stucco on church which was removed during the 1951 renovation.

Picture taken between
1912 and 1951 exact date unknown.
Interior of church renovation
after 1951.
The "Old School"
Taken 8-23-71
Close up of an angel on the altar from the photo on the left.
St Vincent de Paul
Main Altar after renovation in 1951.
From the Lueders Collection, courtesy of Southeast Missouri State University Archives, Cape Girardeau MO.
Photograph from the Friant-Post wedding at St. Vincent's Church, June 29 1941. 
HOME