St martin de tours biography of martinville

Established in 1765 in Saint Martinville, Louisiana, St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church is the third oldest church in the state. The Acadian people arrived in St. Martinsville in 1765, led by Fr.

Jean-Francois Civrey, OFM, and established a parish and church, earning St. Martin de Tours the title of Mother Church of the Acadians. Forcibly deported from Acadie in Canada by the British in 1755, it was these exiles who established the Acadian culture and traditions that have left an indelible imprint upon the state of Louisiana.

St. Martin de Tours church was built in 1765 as a wooden frame structure.

St. martin de tours catholic church

However, to better endure Louisiana’s weather conditions, in 1836, construction began on the current church, which was rebuilt of brick. The church took a several years to construct, competing around 1844. Since then, it has remained largely unchanged, except for additions made in the late 1870s, including two trancepts.

This structural continuity makes the church