New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-14
ST. PATRICK's CHURCH.
Camp Street BeautiAed,

L
Camp Street BeautiAed,
Thirty years or more after its erection
the majestic edifce on Camp. street, ST
Patrick Church, seems about to be finished
The crowning pinnacles have been erected
and workmen are busy in giving the out
ward walls q final coat of ceinenting AM
rough granting. But during all these years
while the edifce itself remained not full,
complete, St. Patrick's Church has had it,
large share Of works and influences tina
belong to the propagation of christianity.
Years ago the site OF the present edifict
was occupied by a comparatively small
building Of wood, which was for lone
time the only Catholic church in New Or
leans above Canal street. This wooden
church was erected, so far as can be ascer
tanned, in the year 1881.
Early in that year, subscription was
opened, whereby the subscribers agreed to
place in the hands of Rev. C. Maenhaut and
Mr.. Charles Byrne, the sums of money op-
posite to their names, to purchase a site for
a Catholic Church in the Faubourg St.
Mary. Among other subscribers. are re-
corded the names of Martin Gordon for five
hundred dollars, G. r. Stringle for five hun.
dred dollars, and Nicholas Sinnot for five
hundred dollars. Any old resident of New
Orleans will recognize these names as be-
longing to prominent citizens of by-gone
days. .-.......
After the building was consecrated and
passed out of the hands of Reverend
Father Maenhaut, who was afterward
rector of the Cathedral Church of St.
Louis, Reverend Father Kenderlin was ap-
pointed to take charge of the church. This
appears by the Baptismal records of the
church, in which it is written, that on the
twenty-fourti day of April, 1888, William
O'Brien, son Of Patrick O'Brien and Brid-
get Barrett, was baptised. This is the first
baptism on record, and is signed by Father
Kinderlin, as rector of st. Patrick's Church.
Father Kenderlin was. in 1884. succeeded
by Rev. Father J. j. Mullon. and the first
officially recorded act of this clergyman.
afterwards so widely known and respected
throughout New Orleans. was the baptism
of Marie Blanche, founding, the sponsors
being J. j. Mullon and Euphrasie Prieur.
FOryears after its foundation St. Patrick's
Church was the principal if not the only
resort of the increasing body of Catholics in
New Orleans, whose mother tongue was
English. Before long it was found that the
existing building was too circumscribed.
and ways and means for the erection of a
large and lasting edifice were agitated. A
very large subscription was made and the
present imposing building was commenced
in 1888.
The old church was not taken down pre-
viOusly to the commencement of the new
one. But the wooden church continued to
be used for service during several months,
while the walls of the new building were
rising around it, Afterward. for short
time, until the new church was ready for
service, mass was celebrated in house on
Julia street, between Camp and st. Charles.
in the three-story brick row then known as
the thirteen buildings.
When st. Patrick's Church was conse-
Grated. the tower. which had been built to
a height of one hundred and eighty feet
from the ground, was left unfinished. I'M
prOvements and additions to some small
extent were made from time to time. but it
ID oihN az ehC pAtoVAt' tAittl
work is done.
For several years after its erection, this
mass of brick composing the tow
er, settled very unevenly. so that it leaned
over toward the church in rather fearful
looking manner, though there was proba-
bly, no real danger. The declination was.
however, a subject of general remark. To
remedy this inequality. two large cast iron
pillars, some fifty feet in length. were used.
One end of each pillar rested on founda-
ton securely built inside the church, and
the upper end fixed fast in the tower, serv-
ing etiecfually as a prop. The pillars are
vet there, but the tower has since their con-
struction settled so on the outer side, that |
It is now perpendicular, or nearly so.
st. Patricks Church was a subject of en-
1anced interest to its members and of gen
,ral interest to the community in lS45, |
when the celebrated Father Matthew, max
ng tour through the United States, Wis
ted New Orleans, and at st. Patrick
standing in the chancel, administered the
temperance pledge to hundreds, many of
whom were not members of the Catholic
On the ninth of September, 1868, the Rev.
Father MullOn died, ripe in years and good
works. His successor is the Rev. Father
Flanagan. the present rector who has been
with the church excepting
,eriod when he officiated at the Church of
It. Theresa) since the year lS47.