St. Augustine Church (New Orleans) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Augustine Catholic Church |
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| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | staugchurch.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1841 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of New Orleans |
St. Augustine Church is a Catholic church in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was started by people who were free and of color, meaning they were not enslaved. They even bought seats for enslaved people to attend. This church is thought to be the oldest Black Catholic church in the United States. It was founded in 1841. It is also one of the first 26 places chosen for the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
The land where St. Augustine Church stands used to be part of a large farm called the Claude Tremé plantation. Today, it is one of two Catholic churches in the Faubourg Tremé area. The church is on Saint Claude Avenue, near Governor Nicholls Street. It is also just a few blocks from the French Quarter.
Bishop Antoine Blanc helped start the church. He later became the first Archbishop of New Orleans. A French architect named J. N. B. de Pouilly designed the church. He also worked on the famous St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.
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History of St. Augustine Church
In the 1830s, free people of color in New Orleans wanted to build a church. Bishop Antoine Blanc gave them permission. The Ursuline Sisters gave them the land. They had one condition: the church had to be named St. Augustine, after one of their important saints, Augustine of Hippo. The church officially opened on October 9, 1842.
Back then, people often paid a fee to have a seat in church. The free people of color bought extra seats. This meant that enslaved Black people could also come and worship.
The "War of the Pews"
Before the church opened in 1842, people began buying seats for their families. White people in the area also started buying seats. They wanted to buy more seats than the people of color. This competition became known as "The War of the Pews."
The free people of color won this "war." They bought three seats for every one seat bought by white people. They also bought all the seats in both side aisles. They gave these seats to enslaved people. This was a very special and important step. It was the first time in U.S. history that enslaved people had their own dedicated place to worship in a church.
This mix of seats created a very diverse church. There was one large row for free people of color. Another large row was for white people and others. The two outer aisles were for enslaved people. This made St. Augustine Church one of the most mixed churches in the whole country.
Community and Culture
The Tremé neighborhood has always been a center for African-American culture. St. Augustine Church is known for its strong connection to the Black Catholic community in New Orleans.
The church holds a special Jazz Mass every year. This happens during the Satchmo Festival, which celebrates Louis Armstrong's birthday. They also have a weekly Gospel Jazz Mass on Sundays. Both of these events bring visitors from all over the world.
Inside the Church
The inside of St. Augustine Church is full of history. The wooden seats are the original ones from the mid-1800s. A past leader, Father Jerome LeDoux, changed them so they all face the front.
The main altar is very old. It is made of pink Italian marble. Above the altar, there is a skylight shaped like the "eye of God." This is an ancient Egyptian symbol. The Stations of the Cross are ten beautiful oil paintings.
The church also has ten stained glass windows from France. Five windows show male saints, and five show female saints. While the church now has modern electronic bells, it also has three old bells. These bells were made in 1883 for a big event called the 1884 World Cotton Centennial. St. Augustine Church bought them in 1894.
Tomb of the Unknown Slave
There is a special monument called the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. It is in a garden area on the church property. This monument honors the many enslaved people who died without their names being known or remembered. They died before slavery ended.
The monument has large chains shaped like a cross. Smaller chains are at the bottom. The church members who designed it chose this spot carefully. It is where the Tremé Plantation House used to be. Many enslaved people lived there centuries ago.
Saving the Church After Hurricane Katrina
After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, many people left the city. The church faced a big challenge. The local church leaders decided to close St. Augustine Church. This was despite the fact that the church helped the community a lot.
Church members did not want it to close. They asked volunteers helping with hurricane relief for support. They even stayed inside the church's office building to protest the closure. After two weeks, the church members and officials reached an agreement.
The church was allowed to stay open. They had to create a plan to grow their community, raise money, and improve how they managed things. The church leaders would check on their progress after 18 months. A movie about the protest, called Shake the Devil Off, helped people learn about the church's fight to survive.
In May 2008, St. Augustine Church received a grant of $75,000. This money came from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express. It was used to fix up the old parish hall. This hall is an important place for community services. Using the hall more for community help was a key part of the church's future plans.
In March 2009, St. Augustine Church announced good news. Because of their hard work, the church leaders decided it would not be closed. The church was no longer on probation.
Notable Parishioners
Many famous people have been part of St. Augustine Church. These include civil rights leaders, musicians, artists, and other important figures:
- Homer Plessy (1862–1925): A civil rights activist known for the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case.
- Sidney Bechet (1897–1959): A famous jazz clarinet and saxophone player and composer.
- A. P. Tureaud Sr. (1899–1972): A civil rights lawyer in New Orleans.
- A. P. Tureaud Jr. (born around 1936): The first Black student to attend LSU as an undergraduate.
- Allison 'Tootie' Montana (1922–2005): A well-known Mardi Gras Indian "Chief of Chiefs."
- George Herriman (1880–1944): The person who created the famous comic strip Krazy Kat.
See also
