Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
St. Peter Catholic Church
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
1. St. Peter Catholic Church Marker
Inscription.
St. Peter Catholic Church. . St. Peter's was founded in 1840, the first Roman Catholic parish in West Tennessee and given to the Dominican Order in 1846. The present church was built 1852~1855 around a smaller church which was then dismantled and carried out the doors. Within 30 years St. Peter's had initiated the founding of three downtown parishes, St. Agnes Academy, St. Peter Orphanage and Christian Brothers Univ. During three Yellow Fever plagues of the 1870's, 8 priests and 11 sisters of the parish died while succoring the spiritual and temporal needs of the city. Early pastors T.L Grace, and J.S. Alemany later became archbishops. A revived St. Peter's was totally restored and added its Fr. Leo Arnoult Parish Center, 1985~91.
St. Peter's was founded in 1840, the first Roman Catholic parish in West Tennessee and given to the Dominican Order in 1846. The present church was built 1852~1855 around a smaller church which was then dismantled and carried out the doors. Within 30 years St. Peter's had initiated the founding of three downtown parishes, St. Agnes Academy, St. Peter Orphanage and Christian Brothers Univ. During three Yellow Fever plagues of the 1870's, 8 priests & 11 sisters of the parish died while succoring the spiritual & temporal needs of the city. Early pastors T.L Grace, and J.S. Alemany later became archbishops. A revived St. Peter's was totally restored and added its Fr. Leo Arnoult Parish Center, 1985~91.
Erected by Descendants of Shelby Early Settlers.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.
Location. 35° 8.851′ N, 90° 2.935′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. Marker is at the intersection of Adams Avenue and North Third Street, on the right when traveling west on Adams Avenue. Adams Avenue at Third Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 190 Adams Avenue, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . St Peter Catholic Church. St. Peter Catholic Church, located on the corner of Third Street and Adams in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, traces its origins to the fall of 1840 when Bishop Richard Miles, O.P., the first Bishop of Nashville, appointed Father Michael McAleer as the first pastor of St. Peter. Just one year after the first Catholic mass was celebrated in the parlor of the adjacent Magevny House, the parish opened its doors. (Submitted on July 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
2. St. Peter Catholic Church Marker
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
3. St. Peter Catholic Church
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
4. St. Peter Catholic Church Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,321 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
