St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church

St. Mary Magdalene represents that moment in St. Louis architecture when revival styles, such as the Gothic Revival, were giving way to Modernism, but the old had not yet completely faded away.

It’s an interesting church, with straight, severe lines.

The nave is more traditional, restrained Gothic, but the front fa�ade has given way to more simplified forms of Modernism.

The spire, above, is almost strangely diminished in size, as almost an afterthought.

The Four Evangelists, which due to Biblical passages have become associated with four different figures, are represented above the portal with the angel being St. Matthew…

�and the lion of course representing St. Mark, the patron of Venice.

On the north side of the church, at the porte cochere is the ox of St. Luke and the eagle of St. John.

Next door is the parish school, which I must admit is intriguing. The central portal and front fa�ade has traces of the Tudor Revival, but the rest of the building has clearly been updated, most likely in the 1950s or 60s. The original first two floors were gutted, and a third floor was added and the whole building renovated in a more Modernist style. The front door was closed up and turned into windows and the entrance moved to another side.