Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Philadelphia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
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The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 18th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway at Logan Square Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1846–1864 |
| Architect | Napoleon LeBrun, et al. John Notman, et al. (dome and facade) Constantino Brumidi (murals) |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance, Palladian |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000720 |
| Added to NRHP | June 24, 1971 |
The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is a very important church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the main church for the Catholic Church in the area. You can find it at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near Logan Square.
This large church was built between 1846 and 1864. It was designed by Napoleon LeBrun, with help from other architects like John Notman. The beautiful paintings inside were done by Constantino Brumidi.
The cathedral is the biggest Catholic church in Pennsylvania. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Two popes have even held special church services here: Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Francis in 2015.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The idea for building this cathedral started on June 29, 1846. On that day, Bishop Kenrick, who was the leader of the Catholic Church in Philadelphia, announced his plan to build a new, grand cathedral.
Before this cathedral was built, Philadelphia had other main Catholic churches. The very first Catholic church in the city was Saint Joseph's, built in 1733. As more Catholics moved to the city, a new church called Saint Mary's was built in 1763. This church became Philadelphia's first official cathedral in 1810. Later, in 1838, Saint John the Evangelist became the main cathedral because a larger church was needed. It remained the cathedral until Bishop Kenrick started building the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Bishop Kenrick wanted to build the cathedral without getting into debt. This meant the construction took a long time. Work started shortly after his announcement in 1846 but wasn't finished until 1864.
The construction began just a couple of years after some difficult times in Philadelphia. In 1844, there were riots where some groups were against Catholics. Because of this, the cathedral was designed with very high windows. This was done to help protect the building from damage. People even threw stones into the air to figure out how high the windows should be placed!
In 2017, the special shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel was moved to the cathedral. Her former home, St. Elizabeth's Convent, was closing, so her shrine found a new home here.
About the Building
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The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is a very impressive building. It has a grand front, a tall dome, and a fancy main altar. There are also eight smaller chapels and a large main area that can hold 2,000 people. It is the biggest brownstone building in Philadelphia and one of the most important buildings for its architecture.
The church's design is inspired by Roman and Corinthian styles. It looks a lot like the Lombard Church of St. Charles (San Carlo al Corso) in Rome. The front of the building and its green-blue dome are in the Italian Renaissance style. The inside is also very open and grand, with stained glass and red marble. A special canopy called a baldachin stands over the main altar, adding to the Italian Renaissance feel.
Deep inside the building, there's a small area called the "Crypt of the Bishops." This is where many important church leaders are buried.
Who Designed It?
The main design for the basilica came from Napoleon LeBrun. He used ideas from Reverend Mariano Muller and Reverend John B. Tornatore. John Notman later added the dome and the front of the building. LeBrun managed the project from 1846 to 1851, then Notman took over until 1857, and LeBrun finished the work.
LeBrun was born in Philadelphia to French-Catholic parents. He designed many churches in the city, like St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He also designed the famous Philadelphia Academy of Music.
Notman was known for designing churches for the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. These include St. Mark's Church and St. Clement's Church. He also designed parts of the New Jersey State House.
Constantino Brumidi was a Greek/Italian-American painter who created the amazing ceiling mural in the dome. This painting, called The Assumption of the Virgin into Heaven, was finished in 1868. He also painted portraits of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John. Brumidi is also famous for his murals in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., including The Apotheosis of Washington.
Later, between 1914 and 1915, architect Henry D. Dagit updated the inside of the cathedral. He added the apse, which is a rounded part behind the main altar. The beautiful stained glass windows and mosaic murals in this area were made by D'Ascenzo Studios.
In 1915, four bronze statues were added to the front of the building. These statues show Mary, mother of Jesus, Jesus, Saint Peter, and Saint Paul.
Important Burials
Underneath the main altar of the cathedral is a special crypt. This is where many of the past bishops and archbishops of Philadelphia are buried. You can reach the crypt by stairs behind the main altar.
Some of the important people buried here include:
- Michael Francis Egan, the first bishop of Philadelphia, who died in 1814.
- James Frederick Wood, the fifth bishop and first archbishop of Philadelphia.
- Dennis Joseph Dougherty, the eighth bishop and fourth archbishop, who was the first to become a cardinal.
- John Krol, the tenth bishop and sixth archbishop, who also became a cardinal.
- Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, the eleventh bishop and seventh archbishop, who was also a cardinal.
Other Notable Burials
- Katharine Drexel, a Catholic Saint, who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She was buried at St. Elizabeth's Convent and later moved to the cathedral in 2017.
- John Patrick Foley, a priest from Philadelphia who became a cardinal.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral basílica de San Pedro y San Pablo (Filadelfia) para niños
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- List of basilicas
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
- List of National Register of Historic Places entries
- Category:Burials at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Philadelphia)
