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Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Springfield, Illinois) facts for kids

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Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - Springfield, Illinois 02.jpg
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Springfield, Illinois) is located in Illinois
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Springfield, Illinois)
Location in Illinois
39°47′36″N 89°38′55″W / 39.7934°N 89.6487°W / 39.7934; -89.6487
Location 524 E. Lawrence Avenue
Springfield, Illinois
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website cathedral.dio.org
History
Status Cathedral
Founded 1857
Dedication October 14, 1928
Architecture
Architect(s) Joseph William McCarthy
Style Greek Revival
Groundbreaking 1927
Completed 1928
Specifications
Number of spires One
Spire height 135 feet (41 m)
Materials Mankato Kasota stone
Administration
Diocese Springfield in Illinois

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The cathedral, for which the cornerstone was laid on August 14, 1927, was dedicated on October 14, 1928. The cathedral complex is built in a modified Greek Revival architectural style.

Description

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception interior - Springfield, Illinois 01
Cathedral interior

The cathedral was built and consecrated under the leadership of James Aloysius Griffin, fourth bishop of the diocese. Griffin was the first bishop to be based in Springfield, as the diocese had previously been seated in Quincy, Illinois, then Alton, Illinois).

The cathedral complex is faced with Kasota limestone, also called "Mankato Kasota stone," a golden limestone quarried in Mankato, Minnesota. Like many cathedral complexes, it also contains working space for the bishop and staff. An elementary school building forms the southern component of the complex. The cathedral itself is consecrated to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and is under the patronage of the Blessed Mother.

The cathedral is the second building in Springfield to be consecrated to the Immaculate Conception, the first being a Catholic church in use from 1858 until 1928. When the seat of the diocese moved to Springfield in 1923, it needed a larger structure to serve as cathedral. After completion of the cathedral, the nearby Lincoln-era church was de-consecrated and demolished.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción (Springfield) para niños

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