St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral is a historic Catholic church in downtown Alexandria. Built in 1899, it is a striking example of Gothic architecture. It is part of a complex that consists of the church rectory and the St. Francis Xavier Academy building. The church features a tall, 135-foot clock tower topped with crenelations and four small corner towers, lancet windows with tracery, and rose windows. The academy building, which was erected in 1897, is impressive as well. It was designed in the Beaux Arts style and features arched windows, a gambrel roof, porch, pilasters topped with decorative capitals, and ornate dormers on the roof that have Corinthian pilasters. The rectory is a two-story structure that resembles a bungalow.

Images

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral was built in 1899 and is a fine example of Gothic architecture.

Landmark, Building, Architecture, Church

The St. Francis Xavier Academy was built in 1907 (the original portion built in 1897 was burned down in 1952).

Vehicle, Property, Residential area, Car

The Rectory

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The cathedral is not the first Francis Xavier Church. The first was built 1834 and it was located on Front Street. It was used until 1895 when, unfortunately, it was destroyed by a fire. By that time, however, the construction of present church had already begun. It was completed four years later and the first mass was held on November 27, 1899. The belfry was added in 1907 and the clock in 1908. The rectory was first built in 1896, moved from its original location in 1903, and expanded in 1930. The academy building was first built in 1897 and expanded in 1907. However, in 1952, a fire burned down the original portion.

Sources

Division of Historic Preservation. "St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Complex." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 29, 1984. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/139b9370-8d1c-4fc9-a78e-3c9e7a712426.

"St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Complex." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed November 27, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=38327.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

All images via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St._Francis_Xavier_Cathedral_(Alexandria,_Louisiana)

Additional Information