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New Orleans holds some of the oldest places of worships in the United States.
New Orleans holds some of the oldest places of worships in the United States.
Rafal Konieczny

New Orleans’ oldest churches, synagogues, chapels and cathedrals

New Orleans prides itself with its deep historical roots. Churches are one of many of those roots.

By Eric Craig
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New Orleans holds some of the oldest places of worships in the United States.
| Rafal Konieczny
By Eric Craig

New Orleans is a living and breathing history book containing some of the oldest architectural structures on record. Founded in 1718, New Orleans has a leg up on many other cities across the United States.
Here is a list of the some of the oldest places of worship in New Orleans.
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If you’re interested in some of the oldest homes for sale in New Orleans, check out this map.

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Touro Synagogue

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Built: 1908


Designed by local architect Emile Weil, the Synagogue is named in honor of Judah Touro who was a prominent benefactor in New Orleans.

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4238 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

Felicity Church

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Built: 1888

Built in 1849 as a Methodist church, the Felicity Church was known as Steele Chapel. After an internal fire destroyed the church in 1887, it was rebuilt in 1888 as a Gothic revival. The modern Felicity Church was among the first worship structured to have electricity installed in New Orleans.

1220 Felicity St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Christ Church Cathedral

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Built: 1886

The Christ Church Cathedral is the first non-Roman Catholic Church in the state of Louisiana. The church, originally erected in 1816 at Canal and Bourbon Streets, was redesigned three times to compensate its growing membership. Architect Lawrence B. Valk designed the current church in 1886.

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2919 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

St Theresa of Avila Church

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Built: 1849

Located in the Lower Garden District is a Greek revival designed by T. E. Giraud. Built in 1839 as a small chapel, the church was part of a female orphan asylum. The current church replaced the old chapel and asylum in 1849.

1404 Erato St, New Orleans, LA 70130

St. Patrick's Church

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Built: 1840

As one of the Central Business Districts historic landmarks, the St. Patrick’s Church ranks as the oldest Catholic parish in the United States. Architects James H. Dakin and James Gallier designed the Gothic church.

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724 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130

St. Augustine Church

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Built: 1841

Designed by J.N.B. De Pauilly (who also renovated the St. Louis Cathedral), the St. Augustine Catholic Church is the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the nation. In Fall of 2016, the Church celebrated 175 years during the neighborhood’s Treme Fall Festival.

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1210 Governor Nicholls St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel

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Built: 1826

Originally deemed The Old Mortuary Chapel, Our Lady of Guadalupe incorporates the oldest standing building of worship in its design. The founders created the church to hold funerals for yellow fever victims in the mid-19th century.

411 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112

St. Louis Cathedral

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Built: 1718, 1794, and redesigned in 1850

The St. Louis Cathedral has undergone several renovation and remodels over its nearly 300 years of existence. The French erected the first church in 1718, and added on to it for nearly 70 years. The Great New Orleans Fire destroyed the original church design in 1788. A new design was conceptualized by 1794. The most recent design of the church was created in 1850.

A post shared by Anna (@annamrobb) on

615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116
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Touro Synagogue

4238 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Built: 1908


Designed by local architect Emile Weil, the Synagogue is named in honor of Judah Touro who was a prominent benefactor in New Orleans.

A post shared by Ari Hoffman (@hoffather) on

4238 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

Felicity Church

1220 Felicity St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Built: 1888

Built in 1849 as a Methodist church, the Felicity Church was known as Steele Chapel. After an internal fire destroyed the church in 1887, it was rebuilt in 1888 as a Gothic revival. The modern Felicity Church was among the first worship structured to have electricity installed in New Orleans.

1220 Felicity St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Christ Church Cathedral

2919 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Built: 1886

The Christ Church Cathedral is the first non-Roman Catholic Church in the state of Louisiana. The church, originally erected in 1816 at Canal and Bourbon Streets, was redesigned three times to compensate its growing membership. Architect Lawrence B. Valk designed the current church in 1886.

A post shared by Sjors Provoost (@provoost) on

2919 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

St Theresa of Avila Church

1404 Erato St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Built: 1849

Located in the Lower Garden District is a Greek revival designed by T. E. Giraud. Built in 1839 as a small chapel, the church was part of a female orphan asylum. The current church replaced the old chapel and asylum in 1849.

1404 Erato St, New Orleans, LA 70130

St. Patrick's Church

724 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Built: 1840

As one of the Central Business Districts historic landmarks, the St. Patrick’s Church ranks as the oldest Catholic parish in the United States. Architects James H. Dakin and James Gallier designed the Gothic church.

A post shared by Ricardo Herrera (@ricardohra) on

724 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130

St. Augustine Church

1210 Governor Nicholls St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Built: 1841

Designed by J.N.B. De Pauilly (who also renovated the St. Louis Cathedral), the St. Augustine Catholic Church is the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the nation. In Fall of 2016, the Church celebrated 175 years during the neighborhood’s Treme Fall Festival.

A post shared by Wolfy Loffland (@folkwolf) on

1210 Governor Nicholls St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel

411 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Built: 1826

Originally deemed The Old Mortuary Chapel, Our Lady of Guadalupe incorporates the oldest standing building of worship in its design. The founders created the church to hold funerals for yellow fever victims in the mid-19th century.

411 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112

St. Louis Cathedral

615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116
Built: 1718, 1794, and redesigned in 1850

The St. Louis Cathedral has undergone several renovation and remodels over its nearly 300 years of existence. The French erected the first church in 1718, and added on to it for nearly 70 years. The Great New Orleans Fire destroyed the original church design in 1788. A new design was conceptualized by 1794. The most recent design of the church was created in 1850.

A post shared by Anna (@annamrobb) on

615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116