Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries

A church was originally built on the site in 1767. Since this date, several attempts at modernising the building have been made, with construction of a second building starting in 1807, however work stopped in 1827 due to insufficient funds. Work restarted in 1831, with a new church completed by 1835. Father Louis Tapon wrote to the Archbishop in 1885 to request funds to expand the building due to insufficient space, with the foundation stone for the building we see today being laid in 1894. Work was completed by 1897. The building was designed by Father Scoles. Both Father Scoles and Father Tapon have memorials inside the building. The interior is decorated by a mural by St. Lucian artist Dunstan St. Omer. The Cathedral received a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II on 7 July 1986. ==References==