The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France
St Louis Cathedral is the oldest continually operating Catholic cathedral in the country, its triple steeples have welcomed parishioners since 1727, and was rebuilt in 1794 after a fire. It’s located next to Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA. Photo: Getty Images/SeanPavonePhoto
The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, also called St Louis Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and is the oldest cathedral in the United States.
Saint Louis Cathedral is in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.
It is located next to Jackson Square and faces the Mississippi River in the heart of New Orleans. It is one of the few Roman Catholic churches in the United States that fronts a major public square.
History of St Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Three Roman Catholic churches have stood on the site since 1718.
The first church on the site was built in 1718. It was a crude wooden structure in the early days of the colony. Construction of a larger brick and timber church was completed in 1727. The church was then destroyed in the Great New Orleans Fire on Good Friday, March 21, 1788. The cornerstone of a new church was laid in 1789 and the building was completed in 1794.
In 1793 Saint Louis Church was elevated to cathedral rank as the See of the Diocese of New Orleans, making it one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States.
In 1819, a central tower with a clock and bell was added.
In 1834, J. N. B. de Pouilly was consulted to design plans to enlarge the cathedral.
On March 12, 1849, the diocese contracted with John Patrick Kirwan to enlarge and restore the cathedral, using De Pouilly’s plans. These specified that everything except the lateral walls and the lower portions of the existing towers on the front facade be demolished. During the reconstruction, it was determined that the sidewalls would have to be demolished also. Then, during construction in 1850, the central tower collapsed. De Pouilly and Kirwan were replaced. As a consequence, very little of the original Spanish Colonial structure survived.
The present structure primarily dates to 1850. The bell from the 1819 tower was reused in the new building. It remains there today.
Bombing of St Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, 1909
On Sunday, April 25, 1909, a dynamite bomb was set off in the back of the cathedral, blowing out windows and damaging galleries. Luckily, it was after mass so the church was mostly empty.
The following year a portion of the foundation collapsed, necessitating the building’s closure while repairs were made, from Easter 1916 to Easter 1917.
Papal Visits to St Louis Cathedral
The cathedral was designated as a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in September 1987. Today the parish has over 6000 members.
Hurricane Katrina hits St Louis Cathedral, 2005
The high winds of Hurricane Katrina managed to displace two large oak trees in St. Anthony’s Garden behind the cathedral, dislodging 30 feet (9.1 m) of an ornamental gate, while the nearby marble statue of Jesus Christ lost a forefinger and a thumb. More seriously, the winds tore a hole in the roof, allowing water to enter the building and severely damage the Holtkamp pipe organ. LINK Holtkamp Pipe Organ
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