Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans

Christ Church Cathedral is the official seat of the Bishop of Louisiana, in the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.

The Fourth Christ's Church

By the late 19th Century, New Orleans had grown tremendously. Most of the parishioners of Christ Church lived in uptown New Orleans and it was decided to relocate the church in that area. The corner of Canal and Dauphine was valuable commercial property. The present property on the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Sixth Street was purchased. The cornerstone for this present Christ Church was laid on June 10, 1886. This fourth building, also Gothic in style, was designed by architect Lawrence B. Valk of New York. Through a devoted benefactor, the Chapel of matching design was added in 1889. Since it was debt free, it was consecrated prior to the Cathedral.

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In 1959 the latest expansion program was begun-providing space for administrative offices, the Church School, library, assembly hall, and service areas. The architects were Freret and Wolf. The Gothic design of the Cathedral and Chapel were followed.

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Christ Church has been fortunate in having a procession of distinguished and dedicated rectors and deans. James F. Hull followed Philander Chase, who went on to become the first Bishop of Ohio in 1819(where he founded Kenyon college), the first Bishop of Illinois in 1835, and in 1852 he became Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; Nathaniel Wheaton; Francis L. Hawkes (who was chosen the first president of the University of Louisiana, which later became Tulane University); Edmund Neville; William Thomas Leacock, who served Christ Church for 30 years; Alexander I. Drysdale and David Sessums, who left to become the 4th Bishop of Louisiana, an office he held for 38 years.

Related Topics:
Presiding Bishop - Tulane University

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