Cross Saved From Devastating Fire to Rise Atop New St. Luke’s Church

More than two years after a devastating fire destroyed St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Pope Hall, one of the few items saved from the fire will soon rise again above the parish’s new church.

On Wednesday, September 2 at 11:00 a.m., the cross will be placed atop the steeple of St. Luke’s new church, marking a visible and meaningful sign of hope, faith and renewal. Parishioners and members of the community are invited to gather on the church campus to witness the occasion.

The cross stood atop St. Luke’s former church before the devastating fire of Feb. 17, 2024. Its placement on the new church creates a powerful connection between the parish’s past and future and makes this milestone especially meaningful for the St. Luke’s community.

The raising of the cross symbolizes the faith and resilience that have sustained St. Luke’s since the fire. Through its Capital Campaign, Honoring Our Past. Building Our Future., the parish is rebuilding a sacred campus that honors its history while serving future generations.

The project includes a new church building, a redesigned Pope Hall, and campus-wide improvements. The new church will provide expanded space for worship and fellowship while incorporating cherished elements of St. Luke’s heritage and Episcopal tradition.

“This is an extraordinary moment in the life of St. Luke’s,” said Fr. Bryan Owen, rector of St. Luke’s Church. “After experiencing such tremendous loss, to see the cross lifted into place is a powerful reminder that our faith has carried us forward and that a new chapter in the life of this parish is taking shape.”

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church invites parishioners and the Baton Rouge community to witness this meaningful milestone. St. Luke’s is located at 8833 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge. More information about the capital campaign is available at givingsites.com/honoringbuilding.

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