Cathedral Basilica of St. James (Brooklyn) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Basilica of Saint James the Apostle |
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 Cathedral Basilica of Saint James the Apostle
Location in New York City
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| 40°41′49.4″N 73°59′12″W / 40.697056°N 73.98667°W | |
| Location | Jay Street & Cathedral Place Brooklyn, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | brooklyncathedral.org |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral (1853-1896; 1972-present) Pro-cathedral (1896-1972) |
| Founded | 1822 |
| Dedication | James, son of Zebedee |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Georgian Revival |
| Completed | 1903 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Brooklyn |
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint James is a very important church in Brooklyn, New York. It's called a 'cathedral' because it's the main church for the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. It's located in Downtown Brooklyn and was built in 1903. The building has a special look called 'Neo-Georgian style'.
In 1982, Pope John Paul II gave the church a special title, making it a 'Minor Basilica'. This means it's a very important church in the Catholic Church.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The very first church building was started in 1822 and finished in 1823. It was named after Saint James by Bishop John Connolly. When the Diocese of Brooklyn was created in 1853, this church became its main cathedral.
Building a New Cathedral
Brooklyn's first bishop, John Loughlin, wanted to build a much bigger cathedral. This new church was planned to be named after the Immaculate Conception. Construction began in 1868 in Fort Greene.
However, they ran out of money, so the new cathedral was never fully built. Only a small chapel and the bishop's home were completed. The bishop's home is now part of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School.
Changes in Status
Because the new cathedral wasn't finished, Bishop McDonnell changed the status of St. James in 1896. It became a 'pro-cathedral', which means it was a temporary main church.
Even though the current church building on the original site was finished in 1903, it didn't become the official cathedral again until 1972.
Papal Visit and Co-Cathedral
In 1979, the newly elected Pope John Paul II visited the church. A few years later, in 1982, he officially named it a 'basilica'.
Because the Cathedral Basilica of Saint James is not very large, many big church events are held at other, bigger churches in the diocese. For this reason, St. Joseph's Church in Prospect Heights was also named a 'co-cathedral' for the diocese in 2013. This means it shares the role of the main church.
The current leader of St. James' Cathedral Basilica is Father Bryan Patterson.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral basílica de Santiago (Brooklyn) para niños
Images for kids
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Inside the Cathedral Basilica
