Written by Gail Finke • Illustrated by Emma Cassani
The parish of St. Remy in Russia was established before the town itself was built.
1839 St. Valbert parish in Darke County established for French-speaking immigrants 1846 St. Valbert’s split into three parishes; St. Remy chapel built Early 1850s Russian immigrants settle in the area eventually named “Russia” either by French-speaking veterans of the Napoleonic wars in Ukraine, or by Russian immigrants noting the land’s resemblance to the Russian steppes 1852 First log church dedicated 1869 First brick church built
8 statues in the sanctuary: Sts. Ignatius of Loyola, Therese of Lisieux, Mary Magdalene, and Isadore on the high altar; two man-sized angels holding candlestands; St. Remy, and Jesus displaying His Sacred Heart
1890 Current church constructed in the Romanesque Revival style with a Gothic Revival tower 1904 First remodel; Stations of the Cross added
2 stained glass windows in the sanctuary honoring Sts. Peter and Paul
1915 Stained glass windows installed 1970 Church renovated extensively, gutting or redoing much of the interior and adding an exterior vestibule
8 major stained-glass windows Visitors should know they can arrive anytime from 5 am to 9:30 pm; we want everyone to be able to pray in St. Remy. When they come, they will encounter silence. Our folks know how important that is, and we still keep to the old tradition of whispering in church or else stepping outside. - Fr. Martin Fox If you don’t know St. Remy and King Clovis, the first stained glass window on the Joseph side, right near St. Joseph, tells the story of his baptism- with an assist by the Queen, St. Clotilda. - Fr. Martin Fox 4 6 | THE CATHOLIC TELE GRAPH
1979 St. Remy listed on the National Register of Historic Places both alone and with 32 other properties associated with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood
St. Remy Known as the “Apostle to the Franks,” Remigius (Remy), Bishop of Rhiems, baptized King Clovis on Christmas Day in 496, which led to the conversion of the entire Frankish people.
1990 Church renovated to restore much of its original look with a high altar, freestanding altar, pulpit, Mary and Joseph side altars, and gilded half dome 2014 Glass exterior doors replaced with new custom walnut entrance doors, transom, and tympanum
