Established in 1865, St. Nicholas is the oldest church serving African American Catholic Christians in St. Louis. Since 1926 it has been staffed by the Society of the Divine Word missionaries. The original church building served from 1867 until this one was built in 1960. In 2023 the church was merged with Most Holy Trinity in Hyde Park and Ss. Teresa & Bridget in Jeff-Vander-Lou , forming the new St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. A decree was issued in December 2025 for the closure and deconsecration of the church January 19, 2026. The altar and other sacred objects were to be removed and stored.
