St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church - St. Francisville, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 35.464 W 087° 38.826
16S E 443645 N 4271596
The St. Xavier Catholic Church has been recognized by the Illinois Historical Society as being the oldest continuously operating religious organization in the State.
Waymark Code: WMK3CA
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 02/07/2014
Views: 2
County of tower: Lawrence County
Location of tower: 711 Main St., St. Francisville
From Google Books I got contract info:
"*church $25,000. 1 sty. & bas. 40x120. Irreg. St. Francisville, Ill. Archt. L. H. Osterhage. Second Natl. Bank bldg., Vencennes, owner St. Francis Xavier R. C. Church, Rev. Taggert, St. Francisville. Brk. & stone. Gen. contr. let to Baird & Vail, Sumner, Ill. at $22,462" - The American Contractor - June 25, 1916 (Google Books)
"In memory of the early French missionaries and settlers who came to this area in the late 18th Century and the Catholic faith that they rooted in the lives of the people on the banks of the Wabash River.
1818-1819 The establishment and construction of the first log chapel
1836 Father John Courbe becomes the first resident pastor
1838 The dedication of the 2nd Church by Bishop Brute.
1842 The opening of the first Catholic School by the Sisters of Providence.
1887 The construction of the frame church.
1916 The erection of the present brick Church in Italian renaissance architecture."
~ Historic marker on site erected by Illinois Daughters of the American Colonists
Church and school closed in 1969, church is now treated as a "mission" church by the Archdioceses