Louisiana has relatively few nineteenth century church buildings remaining. If we lose these buildings, we have lost a tangible view of the past. St. Paul Church, built in 1871, is considered to be an example of a carpenter, folk version of Gothic Revival style with features including pointed arches and multiple shaft columns. Its worn floors, wooden pews, and simplistic style allow one to understand the characteristics that molded the original Bayou Goula community.
Bayou Goula is located on the Mississippi River in Louisiana’s Iberville Parish 70 miles north of New Orleans and 24 miles southwest of Baton Rouge. Current demographic data shows the 10-mile rural radius to be economically disadvantaged. Restoration of this 150-year old neighborhood building brings a sense of community heritage while providing a sustainable venue for cultural, educational and community events.
Bayou Goula is one of two oldest European settlements in present-day Louisiana. Only a shadow of its former importance, this community’s port was once second only to New Orleans as an entrance into the Louisiana Purchase territory. St. Paul Church was immersed in the community’s role in the early development of Iberville Parish and Louisiana.