The Historic St. Augustine Church in New Orleans Louisiana is a long serving church to the community. This is a Catholic Church that is part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish itself was founded in 1841 under Bishop Antoine Blanc. It is located in the Faubourg Treme, a section of the city. The property that the church sits on was once part of the Claude Treme plantation estate.
The history behind the church is what makes it so unique. The church was founded by freed blacks, and was a first for the area as such. The church's mission is to celebrate the freedom from sin and oppression that plagued the area. It was first dedicated in 1842. Since the time that it was opened, it always served to provide a place of worship for both freed and slave worshippers.
A variety of celebrities have called this church home including Civil Rights Activist Homer Plessy and Clarinetist Sidnew Bechet. Located on the grounds is the Tomb of the Unknown Slave, which is a memorial for those slaves that died in the region and especially in Faubourg Treme.
Visitors are welcome to come to St. Augustine Church at any time. The Church was faced with many problems after Hurricane Katrina, but has since opened their doors. You can schedule a tour of the grounds, a history of the building and the people that made it happen as well as stories from a personal side. This unique location in New Orleans serves as a place of worship to this day.
Events at Historic St. Augustine Church in New Orleans, LA