Immaculate Conception Church (New Orleans)
Immaculate Conception church, locally known as Jesuit church, is a
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Church_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_New_Orleans_Jewells_Crescent_City.jpg/220px-Church_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_New_Orleans_Jewells_Crescent_City.jpg)
Two Immaculate Conception churches, nearly identical to each other, were built on the same site over time. The first church was designed by Fr. John Cambiaso, S.J., and completed in 1857. In the late 1920s, it suffered foundation damage due to the construction of the Pere Marquette building. The church's floor split in half. The building was disassembled in 1928. New footings at the same site were laid in 1929 with the cornerstone laid on 16 May 1929. The new church building, incorporating many fixtures from the older church, was dedicated on 2 March 1930.[1]
Architecture
Immaculate Conception church was built and designed in the Neo-
Interior
When one enters the church, one is met with the enormous height of the nave, compared to other churches in New Orleans. The columns begin with niches in which small statues of archangels stand, and then what is reminiscent of a Solomonic column.
The many
The pews are made of cast iron, with Moorish tracery, rosettes, and designs particularly symbolic of scriptural references. The chandeliers of fine bronze are of both Moorish and Byzantine styles.
The brilliant
College chapel
As the
Louisiana Cotton Exposition Organ
The remnants of the 1884 World Cotton Centennial or Louisiana Cotton Exposition Organ are housed within the church.[2] The pipe organ was originally built by Pilcher, and was the biggest pipe organ manufactured by the company. When it was being played inside the fair building, it caused the collapse of the main tent.
The organ had major renovations and additions by M.P. Moller before it was given to the Jesuit Fathers. It operated in the original church and was moved to the Fairmont Hotel, across the street, while the church was being reconstructed. Then the organ was installed in the 'new' 1929 church, with modifications by M.P. Moller. The organ's facade contained 32 feet (9.8 m) tall Open Diapason pipes, with Moorish Revival style stenciling on them.
The organ was later abandoned, but left intact inside the structure. There are large swell shades in the walls at the back of the church.[2] It was replaced by a much smaller organ by Pilcher.
After several years of using the second smaller organ, the church replaced it with a digital organ by Phoenix.[3]
- Access
The church offers tours daily at 3 pm.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Jesuit Church of New Orleans". www.jesuitchurch.net. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ a b "1884 Louisiana Cotton Exposition Organ, New Orleans, LA". www.neworleanschurches.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ "Quality organs". www.qualityorgans.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
External links
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