St. Mary's Assumption Church (New Orleans, Louisiana)
St. Mary's Assumption Church
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File:StMary26Oct07FrontIs.jpg | |
Location | Corner of Constance and Josephine New Orleans, LA 70130 |
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Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Built | 1860 |
Architect | Unknown |
Architectural style | Baroque Revival, Late Victorian |
NRHP Reference # | 71000361 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | August 12, 1971[1] |
Designated NHL | May 30, 1974[2] |
St. Mary's Assumption Church is a National Historic Landmark church at Constance and Josephine Streets in New Orleans, Louisiana. The church was completed in 1860, built for the swelling German Catholic immigrant population in the Lower Garden District section of the city (the church across the street, Saint Alphonsus Church, was built at the same time for the swelling Irish Catholic immigrant population in the same area). Both churches are extremely beautiful and ornate.
Description
St. Mary's Assumption is home to a shrine and museum for Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, a German priest who came to the United States to minister to German-speaking immigrants. Fr. Seelos died while serving as the pastor at St. Mary's Assumption: after visiting and caring for the victims of yellow fever, he succumbed to the disease himself in 1867. In recognition of his virtuous life, Fr. Seelos was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 2000.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974, significant as a rare and elaborate example German Baroque Revival architecture.[2][3]
In 1965, the church was heavily damaged by Hurricane Betsy, which resulted in the church being temporarily closed, and almost resulted in the church being demolished.[4] In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused heavy rain and wind damage, and water infiltration damaged interior plaster and ceiling, according to the National Park Service.[2]
Best-selling novelist Anne Rice renewed her marriage vows at St. Mary's Assumption with her husband Stan.[5] In addition, Anne Rice included the church in her fictional work. For example, in The Witching Hour, two of the main characters, Rowan and Michael, were married at St. Mary's Assumption. Also, in Blackwood Farm, the church is the setting of Aunt Queen's funeral. In 2005, Rice added text and pictures on her website that encouraged donations to St. Mary's Assumption to help repair the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.[6]
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Mary's Assumption Church, New Orleans. |
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- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. and Accompanying 3 photos, exterior and interior, from 1955 and c.1964. PDF (1.11 MB)
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External links
- Seelos Shrine - information about St. Mary's Assumption Church, Seelos Shrine and Museum
- Pages with broken file links
- Commons category link is locally defined
- German-American culture in Louisiana
- National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1860
- Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana
- Roman Catholic churches in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Baroque Revival architecture in the United States
- Redemptorist churches
- 1860 establishments in the United States
- Museums in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Religious museums in Louisiana
- National Register of Historic Places in New Orleans, Louisiana