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Home/Northshore/Twin Steeples
two white churches with steeples facing each other after dark lights on inside

Twin Steeples

born again with art

These two old churches with their twin steeples are among the oldest wooden structures in the southeastern Louisiana city of Ponchatoula. But after sitting mostly unused for decades, the buildings have been transformed into a new creative arts center.

rose colored sunset sky and clouds and wooden church with steeple
The old Lutheran Church in Ponchatoula becomes new arts center

Ponchatoula artist and philanthropist, the late Harry Gabriel, came up with the idea for turning the old Lutheran and Presbyterian churches into an arts center. “His vision was to have a place that would not censor anything that musicians and artists wanted to do,” explains Kim Zabbia, president of the Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center. Gabriel purchased the vacant Lutheran Church building. The nearby Presbyterian Church was donated to the arts group for one dollar. “It seems like we have an extraordinarily large population of artistic type people,” said Presbyterian Pastor Aaron Gordon. He added, “It seems like it’s very important for bolstering arts in the community.”

moving the twin steeples together

Getting the two old wooden structures to face each other steeple-to-steeple required some heavy lifting. Crews and heavy machinery moved and rotated the old buildings. A new covered pavilion will link the two structures.

Opening Tuesday, November 30th

diagram of twin steeples creative arts center
Diagram of new Creative Arts Center in Ponchatoula

Prior to the Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center grand opening, musician T. J. Barends performed for a fund raiser inside the old Lutheran Church. Barends is a native of Ponchatoula. “We haven’t had too many platforms for the performing arts,” Barends says. “Spinning the two churches to face one another, from different denominations, kind of brings everything together.” Barends adds, “It’s a very cool thing.”

twin steeples featured on tv

Watch this Heart of Louisiana feature on Twin Steeples

The new creative arts center already has musicians and artists scheduled for shows and performances through much of 2022. The former places of worships are becoming a new home for artistic expression.

images of the new twin steeples creative arts center

old wooden presbyterian churh of twin steeples art center
The old wood Presbyterian Church in Ponchatoula
churches with twin steeples face each other
Churches moved to face each other for new creative arts center
church doors face each other at twin steeples art center
Churches facing door to door
musician performs inside old church with stained glass window
T.J. Barends performs at new Creative Arts Center in Ponchatoula
two wooden churches face each other after dark
Two churches become creative arts center

getting there

The Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center is located in downtown Ponchatoula at 220 East Oak Street.

220 E Oak St, Ponchatoula, LA 70454

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        Written by:
        Dave McNamara
        Published on:
        November 16, 2021
        Thoughts:
        3 Comments

        Categories: Featured, Northshore

        Reader Interactions

        Comments

        1. Paulette W. David

          November 17, 2021 at 11:39 am

          Such a wonderful idea. We have so many creative people in the area. Being an Artist myself, I can say it is so important to have places that support artists in our community.
          Can’t wait to visit and get more information.
          Artist from Marrero
          Paulette W. David

          Reply
        2. E J Chabaud

          November 17, 2021 at 12:09 pm

          Good story I will have to visit

          Reply
        3. Prof. Buck Abbey

          May 12, 2022 at 2:58 pm

          I taught a young Harry Gabrial as a landscape architecture student at LSU many decades ago. He always had creative ideas. He has left us with a great memory. Just like Harry to do so.

          Reply

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