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 very important church in Alexandria, Louisiana. It is the main church for the Catholic community in that area.

This beautiful church, along with its nearby buildings, was recognized as a special historical place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 1984. The group of buildings is called the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Complex. It includes the main church, St. Francis Academy (built in 1897), and the rectory (built in 1896 and updated in 1930).

History of the Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral
See also

History of the Cathedral

The First Church Building

The first church building for Saint Francis was built in 1817. This old church was the only building in Alexandria that was saved during the American Civil War.

During the war, the Union army was leaving the town. This was during a difficult time called the Red River Campaign. A priest named Father J. P. Bellier had a clever idea. He pretended to be General Nathaniel Banks, who was the Union army's leader. Father Bellier used a disguised voice to order the soldiers to leave the church alone. His plan worked, and the building was saved from being destroyed.

Building the New Cathedral

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

The new church was designed by an architect named Nicholas J. Clayton. He used a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like old European cathedrals. The new church was officially opened on November 30, 1899. It was the first church in the city made of brick. A few years later, in 1907, a bell tower was added. A clock was put into the tower in 1908.

Becoming a Cathedral

Because the new church was so grand and Alexandria was a central city, the local bishop, Cornelius Van de Ven, asked the Roman Curia (the Pope's administration) to move the main church of the diocese. Before this, the main church was in Natchitoches.

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

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

Inside the Cathedral

The inside of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral is very impressive. It has beautiful rose windows, which are large, round stained-glass windows. These are the biggest rose windows in the entire state of Louisiana.

The cathedral also has a large pipe organ. This organ was installed in 2004. It has three keyboards and 48 different sets of pipes, which means it can make many different sounds. It was built by the Reuter Organ Company.