Front:
Saint Francis Xavier Church, Old Cathedral
1826, Vincennes, Ind.
Back:
200
THE OLD CATHEDRAL – St. Francis Xavier Church
was founded in 1702. The present stately old Cathedral
is the third church on this site and was projected in
1825, the corner stone being laid with elaborate
ceremony in 1826. Its two predecessors for worship
were built of logs, the first of which Indian converts
assisted in erecting. Thirty-nine pastors have served
this church during these many years. Seven of these
have attained high positions in the church, six as
bishops and one as an archbishop. The four first
bishops of the diocese of Vincennes are buried in the
crypt of the present church. The diocese is now
known as "Indianapolis". The library contains some
of the oldest books and rarest manuscripts in this
section of the country.
