Monroe-St. Clair County IL Archives Church Records.....History of St. Augustine's Catholic Church
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Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 March 1, 2008, 5:32 pm

ST. AUGUSTINE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, of Prairie du Long, dates back to the
first part of this century. Twelve families from Lancashire, England, came to
Monroe County in 1812, and bought land of the Government near Prairie du Long
Creek, in what is now known as the Prairie du Long District. The settlers, who
were Catholics, soon erected a log church and were visited by Father Van
Clostere, of Prairie du Rocher. This church was situated at English Settlement,
then in Randolph County, but now in Monroe.

  In 1834 sixty acres of land were donated by Edward Newsham and John Winstanley
to the Rt.-Rev. Joseph Rosati, Bishop of St. Louis, on condition that a church
be built and the land used for its benefit. A stone church was soon erected, and
on November 11, 1838, was consecrated to divine service by Bishop Rosati, with
Rev. J. Kenney as its first pastor and resident priest. The edifice was about
40x60 feet, and was one of the finest churches in southern Illinois. Among the
oldest settlers and members of the congregation were Edward Newsham, John
Winstanley, John Newsham, Thomas Winstanley and John and Thomas Bamber, all of
whom are now deceased.

  After the church was built the old building was used as a district school. The
new church was erected about one hundred and fifty yards northwest and was over
the line in St. Clair County. In 1854, it having become dilapidated, the
congregation, on the 12th of February, decided to tear it down and rebuild. This
was done and a parochial frame residence was erected. In 1867-68, a two-story
brick parsonage was built by Rev. J. Berlage, who a short time previous had been
appointed rector. A tower was built on the church, in 1874, and the following
year the old log church which had been used as a district school, was replaced
by a new building, which was erected further west on the bank of Prairie du Long
Creek. A room which had been added to the old parochial residence, however, was
used for a parochial school.

  In 1886 a new schoolhouse of brick, 20x30 feet, was erected by Rev. L.
Riesen,and in 1889 the old cracked bell was replaced by two new bells, purchased
by the present rector, Rev. J. B. Schlotmann. In taking down the old bell it was
found that the steeple would be too weak for the bells, and suggestions were
made by the members of the congregation to enlarge and remodel the old and also
build a sanctuary to the church. At the examination of the church, however, by
an architect (Val. Reis, of Belleville, now deceased) it was found very unsafe
and not worth further expenditure of money. It was then decided by the Trustees
of the congregation to build a new* church and not at the old place, but at
Freedom, a village about two miles east. The church at that time had a
membership of over a hundred families. Freedom is a little town on the
Belleville and Kaskaskia road and is the center of the congregation, and
therefore more convenient and more readily accessible for its members. In spite
of some opposition to the movement a piece of land of about three and a-haif
acres was purchased from Hy. Diefenbech, October 17, 1892, a noble gentleman of
Freedom, who keeps a hotel.

  When it became known that a Catholic Church was to be erected at Freedom, all
endeavored, whether Catholics or Protestants, to help the same either by funds
or labor. The plans, details and specifications for the new church were prepared
by N. H. Melcher, an architect of St. Louis. These having been accepted by the
rector and approved by the Rt.-Rev. J. Janssen, the bishop of the diocese, the
corner-stone was laid by the latter April 11, 1893, in the presence of a great
number of priests and laymen. The work was then begun under the superintendency
of the architect and the rector.

  The size of the church is 44x90 feet, with a spire one hundred and ten feet
above the level of the ground. The basement is nine feet high and built of
native blue limestone, donated by Benjamin Harbaugh, a member of the
congregation. The superstructure walls are built of native sandstone, donated by
F. Degenhardt, also a member, and are twenty-one feet above the water-tables, or
twenty-four feet above the level of the ground. The masonry work was done by
Frank Tarantino, of St. Louis; the lumber was furnished by Charles Boedeker, who
keeps a large lumber yard in Red Bud; mill-work by the Menke & Grimm Planing
Mill Company, of Quincy, Ill.; carpenter work by J. H. Scheiper, of St. Libory,
Ill.; the caps, window sills and other cut stone are of Bedford limestone, and
were furnished by Ralph Dixon, of Alton, Ill. The church is covered with old
Bangor slate from Bethlehem, Pa., furnished by T. H. White, of St. Louis. All
the contracts have been carried out to the satisfaction of the architect and
rector. The church has ornamental glass of mosaic style, very pleasing, and was
furnished by the E. F. Kerwin Ornamental Glass Company, of St. Louis. The church
will cost when completed about $11,000. A new two-story parsonage will also be
built this spring (1894). The basement will be of native blue limestone, and the
superstructure of native sandstone. The house will be situated on the south side
of the church, with which it will be connected by a porch.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe
Counties, Illinois
Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the
Counties
Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United
States and the Governors of the State of Illinois

Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co.
1894

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