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1118 North Grand Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63106
www.stalphonsusrock.org
TSt. Alphonsus Church has been known as the Rock Church since its early
days because of its rock-faced stone construction. Named for St.
Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), the Italian founder of the Redemptorist
order, it was designed by the Rev. Louis Dold, a member of the order.
The cornerstone was laid on November 3, 1867, and the church was
dedicated in 1872, but the steeple remained unfinished for another
twenty years. At 237 feet in height, it is still one of the tallest in
the city, and creates a remarkable dialogue with the spire of St.
Francis Xavier a few blocks to the south. The church was not originally
a parish church, but became one in 1881.
The Gothic style of the church is of the type called Decorated by the
English and Rayonnant by the French. Copper dormers on the roof light
the clerestory windows over the side aisles. The rib vaulting in both
nave and aisles is highlighted by a line of carved and gilded keystones
(actually plaster). The apsidal transepts repeat the main apse on a
slightly smaller scale. The marble shrine dedicated to Our Mother of
Perpetual Help was erected in the south transept in 1893, and since 1922
has been the focus of regular novena devotions, which in their heyday
drew as many as eighteen thousand people.
With a few exceptions, the stained glass windows in the church were made
as a set by Franz Mayer of Munich, and installed in 1902. The twenty
large windows depict the lives of Mary and Jesus, while the five over
the altar show the life of Alphonsus Liguori. This cycle of windows
remains one of the most important works in this country by the
still-active German company.
The interior of the church was renovated in 1990 to plans of Ted Wofford
of Murphy, Downey, Wofford & Richman. The interior was re-painted in
colors approximating the originals, but the floor of the front part of
the church was raised and the altar moved to the crossing. The striking
new altar and lectern, along with the font and other chancel
furnishings, were created by Jerzy Kenar of Chicago, using walnut and
linden woods.
The St. Louis Chamber Chorus performed in the church twice, in April
1995 and 1996, and some of the repertoire from the earlier concert is
recorded on the group's second compact disc, Vox Pop.
Notes by
Esley Hamilton and
Philip
Barnes
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The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus
PO Box 11558, Clayton, MO 63105
636.458.4343
stlchamberchorus@gmail.com
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© 1955-2009 The Saint Louis Chamber
Chorus
Amanda Verbeck, Web Designer & Administrator
John Wahlers, Web Engineer
Roger Hill, Web Archivist
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