St. Leo’s Catholic Church
Catholicism was first introduced to this
region in 1540 by the priests who accompanied
Hernando DeSoto. Napoleonic exiles of the
Vine and Olive Colony held religious services
and attempted to establish a Catholic mission
in Demopolis in 1817. Services were held in
homes and in a small frame structure before
the present building was constructed in
1905. This church remained a mission until
St. Leo’s Parish was permanently established
in 1936.
Marker is at the intersection of South Main Avenue and West Perry Street, on the right when traveling north on South Main Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
