Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Lewiston, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul |
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Basilique Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul
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The Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul, as seen from the front.
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| 44°5′53.376″N 70°12′44.2296″W / 44.09816000°N 70.212286000°W | |
| Location | 27 Bartlett St., Lewiston, Maine |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Dedicated | October 23, 1938 |
| Consecrated | October 4, 2004 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Noel Coumont & Timothy G. O'Connell |
| Style | Gothic |
| Completed | July 18, 1936 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 2,200 |
| Length | 316 feet (96 m) |
| Width | 110 feet (34 m) |
| Height | 167 feet (51 m) |
| Number of spires | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Prince of Peace |
The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (which is Basilique Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul in French) is a very important church located in Lewiston, Maine. It's also known as Ss. Peter and Paul Church and is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. This beautiful building is a major landmark in Lewiston.
Contents
History of the Basilica
In the mid-1800s, many French Canadians who were Roman Catholic moved to Lewiston, Maine. They came to work in the textile factories. Because so many French-speaking people arrived, there was a need for a French-speaking priest.
At first, church services (called Masses) were held in the basement of Saint Joseph's Church. Soon, over 1,000 people were attending. By July 2, 1870, the Masses moved to the main part (called the nave) of Saint John's Church.
By 1871, even Saint John's was too small for all the churchgoers. The next year, the first stone (called a cornerstone) for a new church, Saint Peter's, was laid. The first Mass in the new church was held in 1873.
In 1881, a group of priests called the Dominican Fathers from France and Canada took over running the church. In 1899, they first mentioned both Saint Peter and Saint Paul together. They called the church S. Pierre S. Paul de Lewiston, Maine. In 1902, the church community was split to create the Saint Louis church in Auburn.
Building the New Church
Even after the split, by 1905, the church had almost 10,000 members. The old church had to be taken down, and the basement of a new, much larger church was finished in 1906.
The Diocese of Portland asked for the church community to be split again in 1907 and 1923. This created new churches like Saint Mary's in 1907, and Holy Cross and Holy Family in 1923. Each time the community split, the money saved to build the rest of the church was also divided. This delayed the building of the upper part of the church.
Finally, in 1933, the Diocese allowed the church to finish building the top part. The church was completed on July 18, 1936. It was officially dedicated on October 23, 1938, to its namesakes, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
Later Years and Recognition
On July 14, 1983, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was because it was the second-largest church in New England. In 1986, the Dominican Fathers gave the church back to the Diocese of Portland.
In 1991, the upper part of the church began a big repair and improvement project. This project finished in 2002 with the dedication of a new altar. From 2002 to 2007, the small worship area (called a chapel) under the church was also fixed up and reopened.
In 2015, a newspaper reported that the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul was one of the few churches in Maine that still offered a Mass in French. It was also noted that many French-speaking Roman Catholic immigrants from central Africa helped support these French-language Masses.
Church Organs
The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul has two large pipe organs. Both were made by a company called Casavant Frères and were dedicated in 1938. One organ, called Opus 1587, is above the main altar area (the sanctuary). The other, Opus 1588, is in the back balcony (the gallery). Both organs use electricity and air pressure to make sound.
Sanctuary Organ Details
This organ is located in the front of the church, near the altar. You can see some of its pipes. It has 2 keyboards (called manuals), 3 sections, 10 different sounds (called stops), 28 ways to combine sounds (called registers), 10 sets of pipes (called ranks), and 737 pipes in total. Each keyboard has 61 notes, and the foot pedals have 32 notes.
Gallery Organ Details
This organ is much larger. It has 4 keyboards, 5 sections, 53 different sounds, 62 ways to combine sounds, 66 sets of pipes, and a total of 4,622 pipes! Like the other organ, each keyboard has 61 notes, and the foot pedals have 32 notes. This organ is the largest church organ in the entire state of Maine.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de San Pedro y San Pablo (Lewiston) para niños
- Diocese of Portland
- Basilicas in the United States
Images for kids
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Side view of the Basilica
