Old St. Patrick's Oratory

Old St. Patrick’s Oratory, designed by the esteemed architect Asa Beebe Cross, stands as the oldest Catholic church in Kansas City at nearly 150 years old.

Old St. Patrick’s Oratory

Address
Built: 1875
Architect/Style: Asa Beebe Cross // Italian Renaissance Revival
Area: East Village

Old St. Patrick’s Oratory, designed by the esteemed architect Asa Beebe Cross, stands as the oldest Catholic church in Kansas City, Missouri. Established in 1875, it was the third Catholic parish to be created in the city and has a rich history intertwined with the growth and challenges of the local Catholic community, particularly among the Irish immigrants who settled in the area after the Civil War.

The Founding and Early Years

1890 view of church. Courtesy: Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO

In the mid-19th century, Kansas City’s Catholic population was growing, especially due to the arrival of Irish immigrants. The first two parishes in the city were the Cathedral Parish and SS. Peter and Paul, which primarily served German-speaking Catholics. By 1868, the need for a new parish on the city's east side became apparent, especially as the city's population extended to streets like Cherry, Holmes, and Campbell. This led to the establishment of St. Patrick Parish, which included the 200 or so non-German-speaking Catholic families east of Main Street.