St. Francis de Sales Oratory

About

Saint Francis de Sales Oratory, built at the turn of the last century, is known to locals as the "Cathedral of South St. Louis" because of its elegantly-designed exterior and over 300-foot tall spire. The church building is in an imposing Gothic revival style. The High Altar alone is more than 50 feet high and forms a unique throne for Christ the King, present in the ornate Tabernacle. Our oratory is the ideal setting for the sacred solemn liturgy, and its adjacent buildings seem to be made for the needs of our continuously growing community. This church is the only church in the St. Louis area of German Gothic architecture and is based on the design of the Ulm Minster located in Ulm, Germany, the tallest church in the world. It is the most intact major example of German Gothic revival architecture in the United States. Saint Francis de Sales has been an anchor in its neighborhood since the founding of the parish after the end of the Civil War in 1867. The campus includes the church, a rectory, convent, and two school buildings, and appears on the National Registry of Historic Places.