Christian Herman Winkelmann

Christian Herman Winkelmann (September 12, 1883 – November 19, 1946) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wichita from 1940 to 1946.

Biography

Christian Winkelmann was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to John and Anna (née Becker) Winkelmann. He attended St. Francis Solanus College (now Quincy University) before returning to Missouri and studying at Kenrick Seminary (now Kenrick-Glennon Seminary). He was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1907. He then served as curate at St. Peter's Church in St. Charles until 1922, when he became pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Rich Fountain. He was pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in St. Louis from 1929 to 1939.

On September 13, 1933, Winkelmann was appointed the first Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis and Titular Bishop of Sita by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following November 30 from Archbishop John J. Glennon, with Bishops Thomas Francis Lillis and Francis Johannes serving as co-consecrators. Following the death of Bishop Augustus John Schwertner, Winkelmann was named the third Bishop of Wichita, Kansas, by Pope Pius XII on December 27, 1939. He was later installed at Wichita on March 5, 1940. He remained as bishop for the next six years, until his death at age 63.