Old Assumption Catholic Church

Old Assumption Catholic Church was the first catholic church in Evansville and one of the oldest of all denominations. It was founded by Rev. Father Anthoney Deydier, a French man working in Vincennes. Father Deydier took many trips east to New England to raise funds for the church since Evansville had not yet fully developed as a city. Once enough funds were raised (nearly $1,200), the cornerstone was laid, and the church opened in 1841. After 30 years, the church was sold to Mr. Charles Viele in 1871 for about $52,000 and was soon turned into a temperance hall, and the parish would move to the new location on 7th and Sycamore Street. In 1889, it was razed, and in its place, the BMA or Business Men’s Association. Now stands the Fith-Third bank parking garage, which was built in 1981.

Built-in 1840 and later torn down in 1889, the Old Assumption Catholic Church has a deep and rich history that expands beyond its four walls. Thirty years earlier, in 1810, Father Deydier and Father Simon Brute left France and came to Bardstown, Kentucky. Father Brute would later become the first bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes, the first catholic diocese in Indiana. Father Brute asked Father Deydier to come to Evansville in 1837 to see if there was a need for a Catholic Church. Once he arrived in Evansville, he found only two catholic families in Evansville, Francis Link and John Walsh. Father Deydier celebrated his first mass in Fances Link’s Mansion House, where he offered the first communion in Evansville. 

According to his account, Father Deydier arrived in Evansville on May 3rd, 1837. By May 4th, Mary Ann Smith was baptized, the first person in Evansville. Once the Church was built in 1840, it was the only catholic church until Holy Trinity in 1851. Due to the growing numbers of German-speaking Catholics in the area, Father Hailandiere would return to Europe under the orders of Father Brute, where he would come across Roman Weinzapfle, a German-speaking French man. He was ordained on April 5th, 1840, and assigned to Father Deydier as assistant reverend. Fr Weinzapfle would minister separate masses in German throughout his time in assumption. However, scandal would soon plague the young man as he was falsely accused and imprisoned for the rape of Anna Maria Schmoll. Fr Weinzapfle was released, and his crimes were forgiven by Governor Whitcomb in 1845 after petitions from Catholics and non-Catholics alike, even a push from Sarah Polk, the wife of the president at the time, James K. Polk. Throughout the 30 years the building was used for the church, there were 2 priests, Father Deydier and Father Patrick Demott. 

In 1871, the church was sold to Charles Viele and turned into the Business Men’s Association. Assumption Catholic Perish moved to a New location on 7th St. Over the next couple of years, it would be turned into the Old Opera House, then the Grand Theater, and it is now razed for a parking garage downtown. In 1971, the parish would officially end 1971 when the new location was also razed to create room for the Civic Center. Although the church is no longer around, it laid the foundation for future perishes and helped develop a large and influential catholic community in Evansville 

Brooks, Clifton. "Priest Walked from Mexico to Found Church that Stood on Second Street 60 Years Ago." The Evansville Press (Evansville) June 6th, 1933.

Engler, Joseph. Old Assumption Church, Historic Evansville. Accessed November 27th, 2023. https://historicevansville.com/site.php?id=oldassumption.

"An Historical Bell." Evansville Tribune (Evansville) April 17th, 1892.

Gollar, C. Walker. Early Protestant-Catholic Relations in Southern Indiana and the 1842 Case of Roman Weinzaepfel. Indiana Magazine of History. 232 - 254. September 1999