7401 Delmar
University City, MO 63130

History of Holy Communion

Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion was founded on January 24, 1869, by a group of 23 communicants who met in a tiny brick schoolhouse near downtown Saint Louis. In June 1869, the Reverend Pierre G. Robert was called as its first Rector. Within the first year of his term, Holy Communion purchased the property at the corner of Washington and Leffingwell Streets, which at that time was the western outskirts of the city. Construction of a stone chapel began in June 1870, and the first service was held in the new building on December 18, 1970. In June of 1876, construction of the church building began. The first service was held on Easter Eve, March 31, 1877, with service of baptism for 13 new members.

By the end of the 1930's, many parishioners were moving out of the neighborhood and heading westward along with the growth of the city. At the same time, the parish faced serious financial trouble. The endowment fund had been diminished by the stock market crash and the parish was forced to take on some debt. The Reverend William W. S. Hohenschild and the Senior Warden advised the parish that it must find a new location if it were to survive.

In 1936, Holy Communion purchased land at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Delmar Boulevard, our present location. While a new chapel was being constructed, facing Jackson Avenue, the Rector held services at the old church and held meetings each Sunday afternoon at the homes of parishioners. On September 11, 1938, the first services were held in the new chapel. For eight years the rector continued to hold services at the old site to minister to those unable to attend services at the University City location.

During World War II plans to build an attached church, facing Delmar Boulevard, were put on hold. On the Sunday following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, Dr. Hohenschild presented to the congregation the dream of building a "Victory Church". He requested that parishioners donate to the parish some of their war bonds. The response was immediate and overwhelming. Within a short period over $70,000 was raised as a thank offering for peace.

Construction of the new church moved in steps. The undercroft was completed in 1947. The Cornerstone was laid on May 7, 1950, and the first services were held on Christmas Eve of that year. The building was dedicated in May 1951 and air-conditioned in 1956. A new educational building adjoining the church was completed in 1959.

The congregation realized a final, long-cherished dream when, on October 6, 1961, services for the consecration of the Church were held with the Presiding Bishop officiating. The congregation was reminded of words used by the first Rector, Dr. Robert, at the consecration of the first church building: "We have built a House of the Lord, which having been freed from debt, no part owned by man, is now consecrated to the Services of Almighty God."

For more than 125 years, through good times and bad, adversity and prosperity, the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion has offered its services to Almighty and all God's people.