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Original Church - 1838In the early years of the settlement, the visiting Jesuit priest, Rev. Father Walters urged the settlers to build at least a log church. In the meantime, several other families had arrived among whom were John Frederich Schwegmann with his mother and several brothers. Although there were only fifteen families, they began to build the church on the land that had been bought by Rev Father Verhaegen. This church was completed in the following spring of 1838 and a poor church it was. It faced south. No bell in the church.
The site was about one mile south of Washington near the present cemetery. Rev. Henry Meinkmann, a secular priest became the first pastor. He was succeeded one year later, in 1839, by Rev. James Busschots, S.J.-- exerpts from St. Francis Borgia Centenary Jubilee Souvenir, 1834 - 1934
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Second Church - Dedicated 1846
In 1840, a church was built above Marthasville called St. Ignatius Church, and another one on this side called St. Peter and Paul, later on called St. Vincent's. Many families also gave several acres. In the meantime, however, several other families had arrived on this side of the river. The wooden church had been enlarged and already the people started to build a better one.
Mrs. Lucinda Owens, a widow, who last year acquired fifty acres, made a new attempt to found a town, which already on May 29, 1939, she laid out as the original town of Washington and which she had recorded in Union. For the purpose of erecting a new Catholic Church she offered four lots to the Catholics.
But several families did not want to leave the church. They even wanted to build a new and larger church on the old site, and in fact they began to build. Others, however, wanted to build a church in the town of Washington which was just beginning to spring up and began to be called New Washington.
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The dispute was finally resolved in 1845 when Reverend Father Provincial Van de Velde came in person to declare by the order of the Archbishop that a church was to be built in Washington. As a means of compromise, the people decided that the church at Washington was to be made smaller, and when finished, they might build another church at Krakow. And this was done.
The foundation which had already been laid was altered (120 feet shorter) for which many people were later sorry as the parish was never separated and hence it soon became necessary to build a new church.
An architect with his workmen came from St. Louis and began to build the church; but the roof of the church could not be put on until the spring of 1846 because the shingles could not be transported from St. Louis on the river in winter. In the spring of 1846 the roof of the church was put on; also the doors and windows were obtained from St. Louis ready-made. Reverend Provincial paid for them.
During the summer months the carpenters finished their work inside of the church, and on the feast of St. Francis Borgia the new church was blessed under the title of this Saint, by Rt. Reverend Bishop Barron, Liberia Africa, who at the same time also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The church was built of brick. It was 36 feet wide and 70 feet long. Hewn trunks of trees served as pews. The men occupied one side of the church, the ladies the other.
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Now, Reverend Father Eisvogels ceased his ministry in the old church at the cemetery which was taken down and again put up as a school in Washington on Main and Elm streets.
As the church became too small, a gallery had to be built which cost $300 and it became necessary to attend to the spiritual wants of the Irish workingmen along the railroad for twenty-six miles.
In the month of November 1853, Reverend Father Martin Seisl, who had been stationed at St. Joseph’s Church in St. Louis, was sent to Washington. The work was now divided in the following manner: Reverend Father Seisl took charge of Washington; FG Eisvogels took care of the workingmen along the railroad, and Reverend Father H. Van Mierlo went to the neighboring stations.
Reverend Father Seisl first procured a sanctuary lamp for the church. The church being so small, it became necessary to build a balcony in the rear and along the sides of the church. But when the men were about to place the pillars, it was found that the floor of the church was very rotten, since in building the church no provisions had been made to let the air pass out under the floor. Hence a collection was first taken up for a new floor. The farmers brought hewn timber for the joists and on an appointed day the whole parish came together and removed the old flooring and the rotten wood, dug out the cellar, made air holes, and laid the new joists and flooring. In the evening they sold the old flooring to the highest bidder. Also, new pews were procured for the church.-- exerpts from St. Francis Borgia Centenary Jubilee Souvenir, 1834 - 1934
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