St. Francis Xavier Cathedral (Alexandria, Louisiana) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in 2014
Location in Louisiana
31°18′44.3″N 92°26′52.1″W / 31.312306°N 92.447806°W / 31.312306; -92.447806
Location	626 Fourth St. Alexandria, Louisiana
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Founded	1834
Consecrated	30 November 1899
Architecture
Architect(s)	Nicholas J. Clayton
Style	Late Gothic revival Beaux Arts Bungalow
Groundbreaking	1895 (1895)
Completed	1899
Specifications
Materials	Brick, pine
Administration
Diocese	Alexandria in Louisiana

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral is a beautiful and historic church in Alexandria, Louisiana. It is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria. This special building, along with its nearby academy and rectory, is recognized as a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This group of buildings is known as the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Complex.

History of the Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral
- Special Features
See also

History of the Cathedral

Early Church Building

The first church building for Saint Francis was built in 1817. This old church was very lucky. It was the only building in Alexandria that was saved during the American Civil War. As the Union army left the town, a priest named Father J. P. Bellier helped save the church. He cleverly pretended to be General Nathaniel Banks, a Union leader. He ordered the soldiers to leave the church untouched. His plan worked, and the building was saved from being burned.

Building the New Cathedral

Sadly, the old church building burned down in 1895. But people quickly started working to build a new one. The first stone for the new church was placed on December 3, 1895.

The new church was designed by Nicholas J. Clayton. He used a style called Gothic revival. This style often features tall arches and detailed stonework. The new church was finished and opened on November 30, 1899. It was the first church in the city made of brick. In 1907, a bell tower was added to the church. A clock was put into the tower in 1908.

Becoming a Cathedral

Because of the new church and Alexandria's central location, the local bishop, Cornelius Van de Ven, asked the Roman Curia for a big change. The Roman Curia is like the main office for the Catholic Church in Rome. He wanted the main church of the diocese to move from Natchitoches to Alexandria.

Pope Pius X agreed to this request. On August 6, 1910, the diocese's name was changed to the Diocese of Alexandria. St. Francis Xavier Church was then named the official cathedral for this new diocese.

Today, the bishop of Alexandria is the Most Reverend Robert W. Marshall, Jr. The main priest of the cathedral is Father James A. Ferguson.

Inside the Cathedral

Special Features

The cathedral has some amazing features inside. Its rose windows are very large. In fact, they are the biggest in the entire state of Louisiana! Rose windows are round, stained-glass windows often found in Gothic churches.

The cathedral also has a very impressive pipe organ. It is a Reuter organ with 3 manuals and 48 ranks. This means it has many different sets of pipes and keys, allowing it to make a wide range of sounds. This grand organ was first played in 2004.