St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Weyanoke, Louisiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary's Episcopal Church
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St. Mary's Episcopal Church viewed from Louisiana Highway 66
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Weyanoke, Louisiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1857 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001774 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1980 |
St. Mary's Episcopal Church is a very old and important church building located in Weyanoke, Louisiana. It was built a long time ago, in 1857, and has a special history.
Contents
Building a Church in 1857
St. Mary's Episcopal Church was built in 1857. It was meant to serve about 20 families who lived on large farms called plantations. These families lived in a quiet area called Tunica, north of St. Francisville, Louisiana.
The church's design is thought to be by Frank Wills. He was a famous architect from New York. Wills was a big fan of the Gothic Revival style. This style made new buildings look like old European churches. Wills believed that small English country churches were perfect for American Episcopal groups. St. Mary's Church shows this idea in its design. Other churches designed by Wills in this area include Christ Church in Napoleonville, Louisiana. He also designed the Chapel of the Cross near Madison, Mississippi.
A Special Ceremony
In 1858, a special ceremony took place. Bishop Leonidas Polk officially made the church ready for use. Bishop Polk was also a general during the Civil War. People sometimes called him the "Fighting Bishop."
The church was built on 5 acres of land. This land was given by Sarah Mulford. It was located on an old road called the Old East Tunica Road.
Changes Over Time
In 1928, a new road was built. This road was State Highway 66. It was about half a mile west of the church. Because of this new highway, the old road was no longer used. This meant the church could only be reached by private farm roads.
The church stopped being used for services in 1947. It now stands empty. The forest around it is slowly growing over the building. The graveyard north of the church is also completely covered by trees. The old road is gone too.
A Historic Landmark
Even though it's no longer used, St. Mary's Church is still very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list includes buildings that are important to American history.
The church is described as a beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture from the mid-1800s. It is one of only about twelve such churches in Louisiana.
See also
- Grace Episcopal Church (St. Francisville, Louisiana): another historic church in West Feliciana Parish
- St. John's Episcopal Church (Laurel Hill, Louisiana): also a historic church in West Feliciana Parish
- National Register of Historic Places listings in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
