The History of Christ Church
Established on September 18, 1877, Christ Episcopal Church is purported to be the second oldest church in Cape Girardeau. The church will celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2027.
Women of the Episcopal faith, Mrs. R. L. Wilson, Mrs. James B. Dennis, Mrs. Samuel Harris, Mrs. Cheney, and Mrs. Otto Buehrmann wanted a place to worship in Cape Girardeau, so in 1874 they began their quest. Mr. Robert Wilson gave them a lot located on the hill near the site of the old Fort A from the Civil War. This currently would be on the east end of Bellevue Street, known then as Windmill Hill.
The trend of the building at the time, however, was in the valley south of that point. So the lot on Windmill Hill was sold, and another piece of land was purchased which was at the time a wheat field, and where the church remains to this day. The lot is at the corner of Themis and Fountain, and was obtained from Jack Painter for $200. It was possibly owned previously by Louis Lorimer, one of the founding fathers of Cape Girardeau. Weekly services were held at the Common Pleas Courthouse until the completion of the church.
Besides the money from the congregation and the fundraising efforts of the women named above, a Merchant Minstrel was held in the St. Charles Hotel, Pink Teas at Booth Exhibits, and the Fair in the Petit New Orleans. Two young women, Ann Green Cunningham and Vergie Wilson, worked Saturdays for three weeks to secure donations from saloons. Mrs. Wilson is said to have once remarked, "A lot of whiskey money built that church!"
Women of the Episcopal faith, Mrs. R. L. Wilson, Mrs. James B. Dennis, Mrs. Samuel Harris, Mrs. Cheney, and Mrs. Otto Buehrmann wanted a place to worship in Cape Girardeau, so in 1874 they began their quest. Mr. Robert Wilson gave them a lot located on the hill near the site of the old Fort A from the Civil War. This currently would be on the east end of Bellevue Street, known then as Windmill Hill.
The trend of the building at the time, however, was in the valley south of that point. So the lot on Windmill Hill was sold, and another piece of land was purchased which was at the time a wheat field, and where the church remains to this day. The lot is at the corner of Themis and Fountain, and was obtained from Jack Painter for $200. It was possibly owned previously by Louis Lorimer, one of the founding fathers of Cape Girardeau. Weekly services were held at the Common Pleas Courthouse until the completion of the church.
Besides the money from the congregation and the fundraising efforts of the women named above, a Merchant Minstrel was held in the St. Charles Hotel, Pink Teas at Booth Exhibits, and the Fair in the Petit New Orleans. Two young women, Ann Green Cunningham and Vergie Wilson, worked Saturdays for three weeks to secure donations from saloons. Mrs. Wilson is said to have once remarked, "A lot of whiskey money built that church!"
Christ Episcopal Church: A Brief Timeline
Timeline research by Southeast Missouri State University student Alyssa Longman, 2019 Historic Preservation Intern at Christ Episcopal Church.
