Church of the Holy Family, Catholic church in Cahokia Heights, Illinois.
The Church of the Holy Family is a wooden building in Cahokia that represents French colonial construction techniques. Its walls are made from heavy walnut timbers combined with rubblestone and clay, giving the structure a solid and distinctive appearance.
The congregation was established in 1699 by Canadian missionaries as the first Catholic parish west of the Allegheny Mountains. The building itself stands as evidence of early European settlement and construction practices in the region.
The parish embodies a French Catholic heritage that shapes how the building is used and experienced today. You can observe how people gather here to maintain traditions that have roots reaching back to the colonial period.
The church is located on Church Street and welcomes visitors, with guided tours available especially during summer months. Regular worship services are held throughout the week, which you are welcome to attend.
The building was constructed using a rare French colonial technique called poteaux-sur-solle, which has few remaining examples in North America. This method is notable because it shows how early settlers combined European knowledge with available materials.
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