When Pastor Monk Bryan was appointed to start a new church
south of the City of St. Louis he found a vacant brownstone residence at
2761 Telegraph Road, erected prior to 1930, which was considered for possible
purchase. This home had served as a roadside restaurant and tavern.
Permission was given to use the living room of this vacant home for
the first worhsip service of St. Luke's which was held on April 20, 1941.
St. Luke's purchased this house and for several years it served multiple uses. The Bryan family lived in the home, church was held in the living and dining room, Sunday school classes met in the basement and even in the garage. On October 7, 1941 Reverend Bryan reported a membership of fifty-one.
Late in 1944 it was reported that the Army post at Jefferson Barracks was auctioning off several of the chapels due to the end of World War II. St. Luke's presented a bid of $2,100.00 for one of the chapels. When bids were opened, St. Luke's bid was found to be the second highest. The high bid was $2,556.25 by General Wrecking Company. With their disappointment obvious, Reverend Bryan and his committee were asked to take a "walk around the block" by the government agent in charge. They did, and were told upon their return that if they met the high bid they could have the chapel. The deal was closed and St. Luke's owned a "chapel" over a mile from the church property.
The steeple was removed, phone and power lines were taken down, traffic was closed off and on May 1, 1945, the "chapel on wheels" was photographed coming down Telegraph Road.
As the membership of St. Luke's grew so did the need for more space. In 1957 the new Educational Building was dedicated. In 1969 the property north of the church was purchased and is now the site of the Parkhurst Building where additional classrooms, gymnasium and kitchen are located as well as the Preschool and Re-Sell-It Shop.
sketches by Betty Mabie
St. Luke's purchased this house and for several years it served multiple uses. The Bryan family lived in the home, church was held in the living and dining room, Sunday school classes met in the basement and even in the garage. On October 7, 1941 Reverend Bryan reported a membership of fifty-one.
Late in 1944 it was reported that the Army post at Jefferson Barracks was auctioning off several of the chapels due to the end of World War II. St. Luke's presented a bid of $2,100.00 for one of the chapels. When bids were opened, St. Luke's bid was found to be the second highest. The high bid was $2,556.25 by General Wrecking Company. With their disappointment obvious, Reverend Bryan and his committee were asked to take a "walk around the block" by the government agent in charge. They did, and were told upon their return that if they met the high bid they could have the chapel. The deal was closed and St. Luke's owned a "chapel" over a mile from the church property.
The steeple was removed, phone and power lines were taken down, traffic was closed off and on May 1, 1945, the "chapel on wheels" was photographed coming down Telegraph Road.
As the membership of St. Luke's grew so did the need for more space. In 1957 the new Educational Building was dedicated. In 1969 the property north of the church was purchased and is now the site of the Parkhurst Building where additional classrooms, gymnasium and kitchen are located as well as the Preschool and Re-Sell-It Shop.
sketches by Betty Mabie