St. Patrick's Church (New Orleans, Louisiana) facts for kids
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St. Patrick's Church
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St. Patrick's Church, 724 Camp Street; parish rectory to the right
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 Location in East New Orleans
Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Built | 1837 |
| Architect | Dakin & Dakin; Gallier, James Sr. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000936 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
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St. Patrick's Church is a Catholic church in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is one of the oldest churches in the city. The church was started in 1833, and the building you see today was finished in 1840. It is the second-oldest Catholic church in New Orleans, after St. Louis Cathedral.
St. Patrick's Church is located at 724 Camp Street. This area is now known as the Central Business District. The church building is a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States. It is also a great example of Gothic Revival architecture, a style that brings back older Gothic designs.
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History of St. Patrick's Church
The area around St. Patrick's Church was one of the first parts of New Orleans to grow outside the original French Quarter. This new area was called Faubourg St. Mary. It became known as the "American Quarter" because many English-speaking people moved there.
In the early 1800s, many Irish immigrants came to New Orleans. They were English-speaking Catholics. Most Catholics in New Orleans at that time were Creoles. These were descendants of French, Spanish, and African settlers. By the 1830s, a new church was needed for people who spoke English.
In 1833, Bishop Leo-Raymond de Neckere started a new church parish called St. Patrick's Church. Building the church began a few years later and was finished in 1840. For a short time, from 1849 to 1851, St. Patrick's was the main church for the diocese. This happened while St. Louis Cathedral was being rebuilt.
After the church was built, there was some trouble in the city. A group called the Know Nothing Party was against immigrants. Father James Mullon was the pastor of St. Patrick's at this time. He was a very important person in New Orleans. Some people worried that he and the Irish immigrants were gaining too much power.
St. Patrick's Church remained a strong center for the Catholic community. This was true even during difficult times. One such time was the American Civil War. During the war, Union troops occupied New Orleans. Their general, Benjamin Butler, was not popular. Father Mullon was very outspoken. He famously refused to lead the funeral of a Union soldier. He joked that he would gladly lead the funerals of Butler and all his troops.
The church building was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1975. A big restoration project took place from 1978 to 1990. This work helped keep the church strong so it could continue to serve the people of New Orleans.
Hurricane Katrina and the Church
St. Patrick's Church is on higher ground near the river. Because of this, it was not flooded during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The church building did not suffer much damage. However, many people who went to the church had to leave New Orleans.
St. Patrick's and St. Louis Cathedral were the first churches to hold Mass in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This happened on Sunday, October 2, 2005. The New York Times newspaper reported on the churches reopening. One person said that the ringing of the church bell was a "homecoming bell for New Orleans."
Architecture of St. Patrick's
St. Patrick's Church is built in the Gothic style. Its outside looks fairly simple. But the inside is very detailed and beautiful. The doorways, windows, organ, and altar all follow the Gothic design.
The bell tower is about 185 feet (56 meters) tall. In the 1800s, some pictures of New Orleans were painted from the roof of this tower. The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 85 feet (26 meters) tall. Thin columns hold up the ceiling, which has a special fan-like design. This design is especially fancy above the altar. It includes sixteen stained glass windows in a half-dome shape.
Above the altar, there are three large paintings. From left to right, they show:
- Saint Patrick
- The Transfiguration of Jesus (Jesus changing in appearance)
- Jesus Christ pulling Saint Peter from the sea
The main architect for St. Patrick's Church was James H. Dakin. He designed many buildings in Louisiana, including the Old Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. New Orleans has a very high water table, meaning the ground is often wet. This caused problems during construction. So, another famous local architect, James Gallier, was brought in to help finish the building.
Location of the Church
St. Patrick's Church is on Camp Street in New Orleans. It is between Julia and Girod Streets. You can easily walk to it from downtown hotels and the French Quarter. It is less than half a mile from Canal Street.
The church is now in an area that has become an arts district. There are many small art galleries nearby. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is also in the surrounding blocks.
Church Traditions
The church tries to keep a sense of traditional respect. This is important in New Orleans, which is known for its lively celebrations. To help with this, the church offers the Tridentine Mass every day. This is an older form of the Catholic Mass. It is said in Ecclesiastical Latin, following the rules from the 1962 Roman Missal.
See also
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Images for kids
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St. Patrick's Church "confessions in English, French, Spanish and Italian" on billboard in 1941 New Orleans
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A marker describing the church on its front
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A window on the right side of the church, near the front
