Basilica of St. Andrew (Roanoke, Virginia) facts for kids
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St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church
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Basilica of St. Andrew, June 2010
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 631 N. Jefferson St. Roanoke, Virginia |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1883, 1887, 1900-1902 |
| Architect | William Ginther |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002225 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 7, 1973 |
The Basilica of St. Andrew, also called St. Andrew's Catholic Church, is a very old and beautiful Roman Catholic church in Roanoke, Virginia. It was built a long time ago, between 1900 and 1902. This church is famous for its amazing Gothic Revival style, which looks like castles from old stories. It's a special landmark in Roanoke!
Discovering St. Andrew's Church
St. Andrew's Church is made of light brown bricks and sits on a strong stone base. It has a cross shape when you look at it from above. The church has two tall, pointed towers on each side of the main entrance. These towers have cool features like small, narrow windows and big, pointed windows with colorful stained glass. Higher up, there are openings where bells would be.
Next to the church, there's also a building called a rectory. This is where the priests live. It was built even earlier, in 1887. Before the current big church, there was a smaller brick church built in 1883.
Building a Landmark
Building this amazing church cost a lot of money back then, about $60,000. Another $40,000 was spent on making the inside look beautiful. The church was designed by an architect named William P. Ginther. He was from Akron, Ohio. His design created a building that truly became a famous spot in Roanoke.
Because of its history and unique design, St. Andrew's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, St. Andrew's Church has been updated a few times. The first big changes happened after new ways of worship were introduced in the Catholic Church. A new altar was put in the middle of the church. This allowed the priest to face the people during Mass. The original, very fancy main altar was kept in its place.
Later, the first new altar was replaced with an even fancier one made of marble. At the same time, some other parts of the church's inside were changed. Two smaller altars on the sides were removed, along with a long rail that separated the altar from the people. Some of the religious art was also changed. The church's lighting was updated to make it brighter inside.
From 2010 to 2014, the church had its biggest and most expensive renovation. The large pipe organ, which was hard to keep working, was replaced with an electric organ. But don't worry, the old pipes were kept as decoration! In 2014, the tall, pointed tops of the towers, called steeples, were taken down and fixed up. They were the original ones from when the church was first built.
A Special Title
On September 6, 2023, St. Andrew's Church received a very special honor. The Vatican, which is the main office for the Catholic Church, gave it the title of minor basilica. This means it's a church with special historical or spiritual importance. It's a big deal for the church and the community!
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View up the nave toward the chancel
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View down the nave toward gallery
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Stained glass window
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Lourdes Grotto
