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 Roman Catholic Archdiocese in the city. You can find it on 18th Street, near Logan Square and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
This beautiful building was designed by Napoleon LeBrun and others. It was built between 1846 and 1864. The large dome and front part, called the Palladian facade, were added after 1850 by John Notman. Inside, the artwork was created by Constantino Brumidi.
The Cathedral Basilica is the biggest Catholic church in Pennsylvania. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Two Popes have celebrated Mass here: John Paul II in 1979 and Francis in 2015.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Why the Cathedral Was Built
On June 29, 1846, a special day for Saints Peter and Paul, Bishop Kenrick announced that a new cathedral would be built. He wanted a grand church for the growing Catholic community in Philadelphia.
Earlier Cathedrals in Philadelphia
Before Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia had other main Catholic churches.
- The first Catholic church was Saint Joseph's, built in 1733.
- As more Catholics moved to the city, Saint Mary's was built in 1763. It became the first cathedral in 1810.
- Later, in 1838, Saint John the Evangelist became the cathedral because an even larger church was needed. Saint John's served as the cathedral until Bishop Kenrick started building the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Funding the Construction
To help pay for the new cathedral, money was raised by selling burial plots. These plots were in Cathedral Cemetery and New Cathedral Cemetery. Bishop Kenrick wanted to avoid going into debt, so the building process took a long time.
Building for Safety
Construction started in 1846 and finished in 1864. This was soon after some difficult times in Philadelphia in 1844, when there were riots. To protect the new cathedral from possible damage, it was designed with very high clerestory windows. This design choice helped keep the windows safe from harm.
Saint Katharine Drexel's Shrine
In 2017, the shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel was moved to the cathedral. Her former home, St. Elizabeth's Convent, was closed. Now, visitors can honor Saint Katharine Drexel at the Cathedral Basilica.
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 large dome, and a beautiful main altar. There are also eight smaller chapels and a main worship area that can hold 2,000 people. It is the largest brownstone building and one of the most important buildings in Philadelphia for its architecture.
Architectural Style
The cathedral's style is inspired by Roman-Corinthian designs. It looks similar to the Lombard Church of St. Charles in Rome. The front of the building and the green-blue dome are in the Italian Renaissance style. The inside is also very spacious, with a large apse (a rounded end part) made of stained glass and red marble. This design reminds people of old Roman churches.
- The main altar has a special canopy called a baldachin.
- There are three altars on each side of the church.
- Below the main building is a small area called the "Crypt of the Bishops."
Who Designed It?
The basilica was designed by Napoleon LeBrun, using ideas from Reverend Mariano Muller and Reverend John B. Tornatore. John Notman added the dome and the front part. LeBrun oversaw the project from 1846 to 1851, then Notman took over until 1857. LeBrun then finished the cathedral.
- Napoleon LeBrun was from Philadelphia. He designed many churches in the city, like St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He also designed the Philadelphia Academy of Music.
- John 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. He painted the ceiling mural in the dome, called The Assumption of the Virgin into Heaven, in 1868. He also painted portraits of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John. Brumidi is famous for his murals in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., including The Apotheosis of Washington in the dome.
Later Additions and Art
Architect Henry D. Dagit updated the inside of the cathedral between 1914 and 1915. He added the apse behind the High Altar. D'Ascenzo Studios created the beautiful stained glass windows and mosaic murals in the apse.
In 1915, four bronze statues were added to the main front of the building. These statues show Mary, mother of Jesus, Jesus, Saint Peter, and Saint Paul.
Important People Buried Here
Under the main altar of the cathedral is a special crypt. This is where many important 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. He passed away in 1814.
- James Frederick Wood, who was the fifth bishop and the first archbishop of Philadelphia.
- Dennis Joseph Dougherty, the eighth bishop and fourth archbishop. He was the first person from Philadelphia to become a cardinal.
- John Krol, the tenth bishop and sixth archbishop. He was also a cardinal.
- Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, the eleventh bishop and seventh archbishop. He was also a cardinal.
- Katharine Drexel, a Catholic Saint. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Her remains were moved here in 2017.
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
- List of National Register of Historic Places entries
- Category:Burials at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Philadelphia)
