. St. Peter Catholic Church

Commitment to Education

A commitment to education, spiritual and academic, is among the most enduring strengths of our St. Peter Parish. The St. Peter faith community has always understood and accepted its responsibility to provide an educational setting for its young people. Note: as you read through this history, you can click on a reference number to see some pictures. Use your Back button to return to where you left off.

St. Peter School was opened September 14, 1863, by Father Van der Sanden, in one room of a small house next to the church. The first teachers, two Franciscan Sisters from Lafayette, Indiana, would be the first of dozens of religious and lay teachers who would shape the hearts, minds and souls of St. Peter's youth over the next 137 years.

After 1853, with the influx of new residents and parishioners into the City of Kirkwood, the parish began to rapidly outgrow the first St. Peter Church and School building. In 1867, the new (second) St. Peter Church was built at the existing church building site on Argonne Drive. St. Peter School remained on Geyer Road and marked its first expansion by moving into the old stone church building.

In 1868, after five years service, Franciscan Sisters returned to Indiana. A lay parishioner taught St. Peter's students for a short period before Sisters of Mercy from St. Louis arrived to teach at the school later that same year.

In 1875, a fire destroyed the old stone church building, the Sisters of Mercy returned to St. Louis, and the second St. Peter School was established near its present site.

Over the next 10 years, lay teachers would instruct St. Peter School children. From 1886 to 1900, the Parish school was staffed by Ursuline Sisters, who resided in a convent on the school grounds. And in 1900, Franciscan Sisters from Oldenburg, Indiana arrived to replace the departing Ursuline Sisters. ^{2 3}

By 1907, the St. Peter School enrollment had outgrown the school building and approval was granted for the construction of a new, larger school ¹. The new school was dedicated August 30, 1907. The old school was moved a short distance and used as a convent for the Franciscan Sisters, who remained until 1915. The Ursuline Sisters would return in 1915 and remain a part of St. Peter School's faculty until 1976.

Over the next 30 years the parish continued to grow steadily and school enrollment continued to climb. Parish Census reports showed the parish community nearly doubled after World War II from 609 families in 1937 to 1330 families in1949. School space was again needed to accommodate the surge in enrollment. In 1938, the Adams Public School, which had been purchased from the city, was razed to make way for the new (Father) Eugene Coyle High School. ⁴ The school opened on Clay Avenue in 1939 with the Brothers of the Society of Mary in charge of the boys; the Ursuline Sisters taught the girls.

Coyle High School served the elementary grade and high school youth of St. Peter's and the surrounding parishes for 21 years, closing its doors in June 1960. Not long after Coyle High School closed the parish grade school moved into the Coyle High School building on Clay Avenue.

In 1980, the Parish Center was constructed adjoining the school, giving the school a gymnasium, a music room, and an art and science room. ⁵ Just last year (2000), a modern computer lab was added, bringing the latest in technology to our students. ⁶

Saint Peter class – 1900 – the nun’s face is barely visible because of the white cowl.

Saint Peter class – 1903 – note that several girls brought their dolls to school.

Saint Peter School – 1907 Men of Saint Peter with Fr. Stemker in front of school – 1907

Coyle High School – 1953

Saint Peter Parish Center – 1982

Saint Peter School - 2002