Home > United States of America > Louisiana > Rapides Parish > Alexandria > Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral

Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral

Memorials	:	0
Location	:	Alexandria, Rapides Parish, USA
Phone	:	318-445-1451
Coordinate	:	31.3129000, -92.4487000
Description	:	Although there is no cemetery at the Cathedral, there were several priests buried under the sanctuary floor in the old church. In 1834, St. Francis Xavier Church was established near the banks of the Red River, and was the only church in Alexandria at that time. Although churches of other denominations were built in the town in the ensuing years, they were all destroyed during the Civil War. St. Francis Xavier was the only church left standing in 1864 when Alexandria was burned by the Union Army. Father Bellier stood in the church with pistols in hand and let the army... Read More	Although there is no cemetery at the Cathedral, there were several priests buried under the sanctuary floor in the old church. In 1834, St. Francis Xavier Church was established near the banks of the Red River, and was the only church in Alexandria at that time. Although churches of other denominations were built in the town in the ensuing years, they were all destroyed during the Civil War. St. Francis Xavier was the only church left standing in 1864 when Alexandria was burned by the Union Army. Father Bellier stood in the church with pistols in hand and let the army know in no uncertain terms that they were not going to destroy the building. Several years later, Sister Marie Theresa Bellier wrote to Bishop Martin on June 7, 1869 concerning her brother's death. She wrote that her "brother died suddenly at Pineville, not receiving the sacraments as Fr. Louis, professor of Rhetoric at the Seminary, was abroad in France. He was buried in the Church in Alexandria in the very spot where he stood some years ago, his revolvers in his hands to defend the Tabernacle. Such act of bravery surprised the world at large." (Letter G. P. Whittington to the Bishop, 8 October 1880, Manuscripts Department, Special Collections Division, Tulane University Library, New Orleans, LA.) On December 3, 1895, a cornerstone was placed on the property where the cathedral now stands between Beauregard and Elliott streets. Before construction began on the new site, the old church was destroyed by a fire on December 30, 1895. "There were ashes at one end of town, and a cornerstone at the other end of town, and nothing in between." (Carr, Dorothy, Docent of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Alexandria LA (1991). After the fire, a building was erected on the new proper-ty, and the bodies of six priests buried on the old church site were moved to the new location. Local residents supplied the bricks for the new building, and sand from the river was used as mortar. Native pine boards were used on the inside. By November 1899, the church was ready for dedication. St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Burials, Rapides Parish La Submitted by Jane Parker McManus http://usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.org/la/lafiles.htm

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral?
Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral is located at 626 4th Street Alexandria, Rapides Parish ,Louisiana , 71301USA.
Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral cemetery's updated grave count on graveviews.com?
0 memorials
Where are the coordinates of the Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral?
Latitude: 31.3129000
Longitude: -92.4487000

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Old Rapides Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3166110, -92.4418730

2. Methodist Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3173820, -92.4407830

3. Jewish Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3170160, -92.4398610

4. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3181630, -92.4397990

5. Wesley Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3164005, -92.4349976

6. Alexandria National Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3222008, -92.4321976

7. Central Louisiana State Hospital Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3308000, -92.4353000

8. First United Methodist Church Columbarium
Alexandria, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.2940170, -92.4656570

9. Garden of Memories Cemetery
Alexandria, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.2844009, -92.4393997

10. Daigre Cemetery
Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3361160, -92.4240780

11. Holly Oak Cemetery
Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3260994, -92.4141998

12. Lincoln Memorial Cemetery
Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3222008, -92.4105988

13. Greenwood Memorial Park
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3400002, -92.4218979

14. Bnai Israel Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3335991, -92.4132996

15. Serenity Field Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3504380, -92.4436240

16. Mount Triumph Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3335650, -92.4112030

17. Antioch Church of God In Christ Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3381630, -92.4125700

18. Sunlight Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3023860, -92.5049840

19. Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3621170, -92.4421970

20. Maryhill Seminary Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3596992, -92.4257965

21. Saint Timothy Episcopal Columbarium
Alexandria, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.2590440, -92.4674520

22. First Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery
Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3153000, -92.5224000

23. Trinity Baptist Church Cemetery
Pineville, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.3399100, -92.3801550

24. Anandale Cemetery
Anandale, Rapides Parish, USA
Coordinate: 31.2506008, -92.4728012

Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral

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