St. Mary Basilica Is A Pretty Place Of Worship In Mississippi

A common response of first-time visitors to St. Mary Basilica in downtown Natchez, Mississippi, is a feeling of being overwhelmed, having underestimated the impact of what they would see inside. As the oldest Catholic building still in use in the state, the basilica is considered the city's central landmark, with its Gothic Revival architecture, historic stained-glass windows, marble altars, and other striking interior features.

St. Mary Basilica underwent two concurrent renovations in 2002. One of the projects was made necessary by severe wind storms in 1998.

Twelve of the 16 stained-glass windows were designed by Tyroler Glassmalerve of Austria and installed from 1884-93. The other four were designed by Emil Frei of St. Louis and installed in 1961.

St. Mary Basilica was consecrated in 1886 as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows. Construction of the structure had started in 1842.

The towering steeple is an identifying mark of the basilica, helping to make it visible from far beyond Union Street on the banks of the Mississippi River.

The basilica's three marble altars, fashioned in Italy, were installed in 1903 and 1930.

St. Mary Basilica was formally dedicated as a basilica in 1999, distinguishing it for ceremonial purposes. The basilica is the spiritual home to about 2,000 Roman Catholics, according to the church's information.

St. Mary Basilica has historical significance from its origin as the site of the Diocese of Natchez from the 1800s through 1977. The edifice is part of the Natchez On-Top-of-the-Hill Historic District and is located adjacent to the Natchez Memorial Park on Union Street. For the daily mass schedule and current information about other opportunities to visit, see the basilica's website.