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Old Town Wedding Chapel Celebrates Its 20th Year; Building Dates Back to 1857
By Julie McTurnan
Florissant’s Old Town Wedding Chapel is celebrating its 20th year of providing a place for couples to have an affordable, yet elegant wedding. In 1990 John Ortwig purchased the chapel from it’s then current congregation, Church Alive. The structure itself dates back to 1857 when the land was deeded for the purpose of building a church so area Protestants would have a place of worship. The building is on the National Historic Landmark list.
Ortwig chose the little chapel in Old Town Florissant so that he could provide a location that was welcoming and economically possible for most couples. A location that would make lasting memories. He envisioned couples beginning their lives together, raising families, and developing strong bonds with the Florissant community. Today, his dream has been realized and so much more. Children of couples who have been married at the chapel are now coming in with fiancés to get married. To date, over 2,186 couples said their vows at the Old Town Wedding Chapel.
The building can be traced back to Feb. 23, 1857 when the land was deeded by Joseph and Virginia Brand and Lewis and Lucy Brand for the purpose of constructing a Protestant church. The chapel was built between 1890-1895 and named Union Church. With the combined efforts of the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian members of the community the Union Church fulfilled the criteria as a place of worship for Protestants as lined out in the original property deed.
The little Union Church has seen it share of changes through the years. During the 1940’s the Presbyterians bought out the Methodists and Baptist and called the Union Church “Florissant Presbyterian Church”. In 1959, the Baptists purchased the church and renamed it “Trinity Missionary Baptist Church”. Thirteen years later it was sold again and renamed Faith Tabernacle Full Gospel Church and was eventually shortened to Faith Fellowship.
The chapel remains a historical landmark that provides a haven for all couples from any religious denomination to have access to an affordable memorable wedding. The site also holds anniversary parties, concerts, pony rides during the Old Town Fall Festival and other occasions, and Blue and Gold ceremonies.
For information or to schedule a wedding or other event, call 314-831-9145.
