Description:

Catholic presence in Natchez dates from 1700. The Spaniards conquered the Natchez area in 1779. The Diocese of Natchez was established in 1837 with responsibility for the entire state of Mississippi. The cornerstone for St. Mary’s Basilica was laid on February 1842 and dedicated on December 1843. The church took 40 years to be complete. It was consecrated on September 19, 1886 and remained the Cathedral of the Diocese until 1977.

The old Natchez cemetery was located as shown in the picture above where Memorial Park and St. Mary’s Cathedral are located today in downtown Natchez. When the current Natchez City cemetery was established in 1822 the remains from the old burial ground were gradually moved to the present site north of the town. Markers with dates of deaths in the late 1700’s testify to the fact that the remains were also moved from churchyards and private plantation burial grounds. Many romantic, tragic and mysterious tales lie buried in the old graves. The beauty of the Basilica and old cemetery are not to be missed.