Location

Phone: 660-388-5590
Fax: 660-388-5590
Email: saintjosephcatholicchurch@yahoo.com
Address: 301 W Williams St, Salisbury MO 65281

Associated Parishes: Wien, Brunswick
County: Chariton
Deanery: Central

About St. Joseph

The first movement to organize a congregation for the Catholic people of Salisbury, Missouri was made in 1870. In 1874, Father M. Busch, the pastor at Glasgow, induced the Salisbury congregation to build the first Catholic church edifice in Salisbury. It was a frame structure situated a quarter-mile northeast of the present church site.

In 1890, Fr. John L. Gadell became the first resident pastor, and under his leadership, the present church site was purchased. A school and convent building were created on the southwest corner of the property 1891.

In 1896, Fr. John Hennes succeed Fr. Gadell to undertake the building of a new rectory and by 1903 under the pastorate of Fr. Joseph F. Lubeley the frame church was no longer adequate. On July 4, 1904, the cornerstone of a new edifice was laid.

The church, built of native sandstone, is one of the few rock churches in Missouri. On July 10, 1905, the congregation assembled for the first service in their new house of worship, which was dedicated on November 16, 1905.