A Bicentennial Celebration of Protestant Faith In Action

Email this Page Printer Friendly Page

	One of seven flower windows, Christ Church Cathedral 1887 T.K. Wharton watercolor interior of Christ Church 1846
	Christ Church, Canal St. early 1870s engraving with color

Heritage of Faith: Christ Church Cathedral and Episcopal Louisiana 1805-2005

Drawn together in worship, drawing strength from adversity, a group of local Protestants adopted the name Christ Church in the spring of 1805, heralding a new era of religious tolerance in Louisiana. A Heritage of Faith: Christ Church Cathedral and Episcopal Louisiana, 1805-2005 celebrates the bicentennial of the church by exploring its rich past. The exhibition, free and open to the public, is on view at The Historic New Orleans Collection, 533 Royal Street, from October 19, 2004, to May 7, 2005.

While Louisiana's French and Spanish colonial regimes outlawed the public practice of any religion other than Roman Catholicism, the purchase of Louisiana by the United States in 1803 opened the door for religious freedom. Christ Church, the first Protestant church in the Louisiana territory, thrived despite the lack of a permanent home. In the congregation's early years, services were held at various public buildings throughout the city. Notable designers and architects including Henry Boneval Latrobe, James Gallier, Sr., James Dakin, T. K. Wharton, Lawrence B. Valk, and Benjamin Harrod conceived and built a succession of four church structures between 1816 and 1887. Drawings, plans, and photographs on exhibit in A Heritage of Faith memorialize these architectural gems.

Also on display is memorabilia linked to leading figures in church history: correspondence of Philander Chase, who delivered the first sermon at Christ Church in 1805, and the throne of Leonidas Polk, who was named the first bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Louisiana in 1841. Christ Church became the diocesan cathedral in 1892 during a resurgence of Anglo-Catholic traditions. Memorable objects exhibited include communion vessels, chalice, paten, and ciborium fashioned of gold and silver and inlaid with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and amethysts donated to the cathedral by the parishioners.

A Heritage of Faith: Christ Church Cathedral and Episcopal Louisiana, 1805-2005 chronicles the history of the church from its inception to the present day. The exhibition brings together architectural plans, priceless artifacts, documents and illustrations to highlight past events, and to tell the fascinating story of the notable personalities who shaped the history of the church, city, and state.

The Historic New Orleans Collection is located in the French Quarter at 533 Royal Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:30 PM. For information call (504) 523-4662