St. Mary's Church (Old Ursuline Convent) - New Orleans, LA
N 29° 57.665 W 090° 03.630
15R E 783681 N 3318109
Quick Description: Historic church located along Chartres St.
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 7/22/2008 11:00:18 AM
Waymark Code: WM48P5
Views: 149
Long Description:"Saint Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1845 as the Chapel of
the Archbishops during the administration of Bishop Antoine Blanc.
The ground on which the chapel was constructed originally was the
site of the Ursuline Convent and chapel dating to the arrival of
the Ursulines in New Orleans. After the Ursulines moved down river
in 1824, the site became the residence of the Archbishop of New
Orleans.
The church has born several names through its existence. It was
originally called Stainte Marie de l'Archeveche and later Holy
Trinity. Later, it became St. Mary's Italian Church, the official
Italian parish of the Archdiocese, with services in the Italian
language for the many Sicilian and Italian immigrants who settled
in the lower French Quarter. In 1976, the name was changed to Our
Lady of Victory to commemorate the Ursulines and their role in the
winning of the Battle of New Orleans.
Overall, the church has served the French, Spanish, Creole, Irish,
German, Slavonian and Italian people as well as native Indians and
the Sisters of the Holy Family who are predominantly an
African-American order. The original Pilcher organ, built in 1890
for the Ursulines by the Pilcher Bros. of New Orleans, now stands
restored and functional in the church choir loft. The church has
now been named St. Mary's Church and it is part of the Antoine
Blanc Memorial and Archdiocesan Archives housed at the Vieux Carre
location."
Information taken directly from the
neworleanschurches.com
web site.
