Church of the Holy Family (Cahokia Heights, Illinois)

Church of the Holy Family
Church of the Holy Family (Cahokia Heights, Illinois) is located in Illinois
Church of the Holy Family (Cahokia Heights, Illinois)
Church of the Holy Family (Cahokia Heights, Illinois) is located in the United States
Church of the Holy Family (Cahokia Heights, Illinois)
Location116 Church St. (corner East 1st St.), Cahokia Heights, Illinois
Coordinates38°34′12″N 90°11′19″W / 38.57012250°N 90.18851200°W / 38.57012250; -90.18851200
Area3.6 acres (1.5 ha)
Built1786–1799
NRHP reference No.70000851[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 15, 1970[1]
Designated NHLApril 15, 1970[2]

The Church of the Holy Family (French: Église de la Sainte-Famille) is a Roman Catholic church located at 116 Church Street in the St. Clair County, Illinois city of Cahokia Heights. Built beginning in 1786, it is a remarkably unaltered example of the French colonial construction style known as "poteaux-sur-solle" (post-on-sill), and one of the few such buildings surviving in North America. It was declared a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.[1] The occupying congregation is the oldest continuously active Catholic Parish in the United States, having been founded in 1699 by Canadian missionaries, and the oldest church west of the Allegheny Mountains.[3] At the invitation of Bishop Edward Braxton, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest continues to offer Mass in this historic church according to the Missal of 1962. Visitors are also welcome for guided tours in the summer. In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, Holy Family Church was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places [4] by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component (AIA Illinois).

  1. ^ a b c "National Register Information System – Church of the Holy Family (#70000851)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "Church of the Holy Family". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  3. ^ Green, Susan. Great Historic Places. Simon & Schuster, 1980
  4. ^ Waldinger, Mike (January 30, 2018). "The proud history of architecture in Illinois". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved January 30, 2018.