St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church - Washington, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 33.655 W 091° 00.824
15S E 673060 N 4269923
"The church is about 52 highway miles west of downtown Saint Louis, Missouri, and is located on the south bank of the Missouri River in Franklin County. The city is named after George Washington, Father of the Country," ~ Rome of the West
Waymark Code: WM10R03
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 06/14/2019
Views: 1
County of church: Franklin County
Location of church: Cedar St. & Main St., Washington
Church built: 1866
Architectural type-style: Gothic
Archdiocese of Saint Louis
Contact Info: Phone: (636) 239-6701
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
" ... round-arched windows recessed in larger brick arches and pilaster strips articulate St. Francis Borgia Church and the facade of its 1895 rectory, which was designed to harmonize with the church building, ... the round-arched corbel table trim of both buildings evokes Early Romanesque Revival." ~ NRHP
"Some wanted to leave the old site and build the church in New Washington, and others wanted to remain. To settle the quarrel, the Rev. Father Provincial Van de Velde came in August, 1845, and decided the issue by permitting the building of two churches, one in Washington, and one in Krakow. The foundation of the church at Washington was altered, and made 120 feet shorter, a regrettable mistake, since the parish was never separated, and it soon became necessary to build a larger church.
"When the new church was completed in 1846, the old log church was taken down and rebuilt at Main and elm streets, where it was used for a school. The Rev. Father Eisvogels, who lived with the Eckelkamp family until the parsonage was built in 1848, was the first teacher. In 1852, a small brick school house was built.
"The present large church was built in 1866. Two years later, the old church was torn down, and the bricks were used for a new school, built across the street. It had two class rooms below, and a large hall on the second floor. In this hall in 1873, the Dramatic Club of the parish began to hold their plays. For a number of years only men participated in the plays.
"In 1894, the Parish of Washington was given over to the Franciscan Fathers. A farewell celebration was held in honor of the Jesuit Fathers, who had worked so faithfully in Washington. Since that time, the parish has been served devotedly by the Franciscan Fathers. The present Pastor is the Very Rev. Sabastian Krempel, O. F. M.
"The days of the little log church seem very remote to us now as we view the fine big church of our present day, and the surrounding school buildings and convent. But not only should we comment on this material progress, but also on the marked advancement made in religion and education through the untiring efforts of the Catholic Church in Washington." ~ The History of
Washington, Missouri St. Francis Borgia Church by Lucile Mauntel