The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Roman Catholic Church (Belgique, Missouri)

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church was a Roman Catholic church in Belgique, Missouri.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Roman Catholic Church (Belgique Missouri)
37°50′15″N 89°46′52″W
Location	Belgique, Missouri
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Website
History
Founded	1884
Consecrated	1884
Architecture
Groundbreaking	1884
Completed	1885
Specifications
Number of spires	One
Administration
Archdiocese	Archdiocese of St. Louis

History

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church was founded in 1884 by Catholic settlers from Belgium. Father D.L. De Ceumynck, an immigrant from Belgium, served as the church's first priest.[1] The first church building was erected in 1885. In 1893 a new church was built and the older building was then used as the school. In 1963, the pastor at Belgique was assigned to administer to the Catholics at Claryville and Sereno parishes. In 1966, Belgique and Sereno were made missions of the Vincentian priests at Perryville. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was closed in 1993, and its parishioners were invited to join the faith community at Our Lady of Victory in Sereno. [2][3]

Cemetery

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery, also known as Belgique Catholic Cemetery, lies just south of Belgique along highway 51.[4]

Gallery

• 
  NBVM, 19th century
• 
  Interior of the NBVM, Belgique, 1984
• 
  NBVM Cemetery Shrine

References

1. State Historical Society of Missouri - Perry County Place Names http://shs.umsystem.edu/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_perry.html
2. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Belgique, Missouri: Archdiocese of St. Louis http://archstl.org/archives/closedparish/nativity-bvm-belgique
3. The Rome of the West http://www.romeofthewest.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
4. "Find a Grave: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery". Retrieved January 10, 2016.