#163: Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine

One of two cakes in Florissant, this one connects more to the historical, downtown part of it. Florissant translates to 'valley of the flowers'. It is one of the largest suburban areas in St. Louis, and it is the 12th largest city in Missouri (as of the 2010 census). Believed to be founded the same time as St. Louis, Florissant is also considered one of the oldest settlements in Missouri. So its no surprise, I guess, that the Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine is also celebrating a grand milestone birthday this year as well.

Facts about the Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine:

• Consists of four buildings that are in their original locations: the 1819 Convent, the 1821 Church, 1840 Rectory and the 1888 Schoolhouse.
• It has been preserved by the Friends of Old St. Ferdinand since 1958. The buildings were transferred to them in 1979 from Cardinal John Carberry.
• The 1821 church is the oldest Catholic church west of the Mississippi.
• The cornerstone was a gift from Mother Rose Philippine Duchesne, who is credited for stabilizing the area, as well as starting the first school in Florissant. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988, several decades after her death.
• Tours are regularly given here, and the buildings also host special events including weddings.

There is a lot to tell about the formation of the buildings. Check out their official website for more detailed information.

As you can see on the cake, St. Ferdinand is celebrating its 225th anniversary in 2014!:

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Wikipedia link
Official website

#1 Rue St. Francois, FLORISSANT, MO, 63031
Cake artist: Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

The cake is now on private property.