Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

History & Significance

Cathedral · Est. Parish founded 1821; current cathedral built 1913–1916 and elevated to cathedral in 1918

The parish of St. John the Evangelist was established in 1821 on land donated by Jean Mouton in what was then Vermilionville (now Lafayette), making it the spiritual root of the community. The present church, the third on the site, was constructed from 1913 to 1916 in the Dutch Romanesque Revival style from designs by Dutch architect A. W. Cousin, who developed the plans based on descriptions from Father W. J. Teurlings; it was built by contractor Eugene Guillot of New Iberia. In 1918, when Pope Benedict XV created the Diocese of Lafayette from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the church was elevated to cathedral status, with Jules B. Jeanmard installed as the diocese's first bishop. Today it serves as the seat (mother church) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, noted for its red-and-white facade and an adjacent live oak estimated to be centuries old.

Dutch Romanesque Revival, a three-aisled basilica plan with a prominent central tower and red-and-white facade

• •Parish established in 1821 on land donated by Jean Mouton
• •Current building constructed 1913-1916 in Dutch Romanesque Revival style
• •Designed by Dutch architect A. W. Cousin
• •Elevated to cathedral in 1918 when the Diocese of Lafayette was created by Pope Benedict XV
• •Seat (mother church) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette; first bishop was Jules B. Jeanmard