Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Peter-in-Chains Cathedral
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Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in downtown Cincinnati
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| Location | Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Built | 1841-1845 |
| Architect | Henry Walter Edward J. Schulte (renovation) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001469 |
| Added to NRHP | January 18, 1973 |
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains is a beautiful and historic Catholic church. It is located in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. This special church is called a "basilica" and a "cathedral."
It is dedicated to Saint Peter, one of Jesus's first followers. The church's name remembers when Saint Peter was imprisoned and then set free. The building looks like ancient Greek temples, a style called Greek revival.
Workers started building the church on May 20, 1841. It was finished and opened on November 2, 1845. At that time, it was the first very large church built west of the Allegheny Mountains. In 2020, Pope Francis gave it the special title of "minor basilica."
Architecture: What Makes It Special?
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The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains has a very tall, white spire. This spire is like a tall, pointed tower. It is made of pure white limestone. The spire reaches 224 feet (68 m) into the sky. For many years, it was the tallest building in Cincinnati!
Inside the church, you will see many unique features. It has a Greek style, which is unusual for a Catholic cathedral in America. There are amazing mosaics that show the Stations of the Cross. These are pictures that tell the story of Jesus's last day.
You can also see fancy Corinthian columns and huge bronze doors. The crucifix inside was made by a famous artist named Benvenuto Cellini. The colorful pictures on the walls, called murals, are by Carl Zimmerman. The large mosaic in the back of the church was created by Anton Wendling.
History: A Look Back in Time
The first Catholic church in Cincinnati was called Christ Church. It later moved to the spot where St. Francis Xavier Church is today. Christ Church was the main church for the area until the first St. Peter's Cathedral was built.
The first St. Peter's Cathedral opened on December 17, 1826. It became the most important church in the diocese (a church area led by a bishop). The second and current St. Peter's Cathedral, the one we see today, opened in 1845.
Large stone angels once stood next to the main altar in the church. These angels were made by Odoardo Fantacchiotti in the 1840s. They were some of the first European sculptures to arrive in Cincinnati. Today, you can see them at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
By the 1930s, the cathedral had become old and dirty. Its white limestone was covered in soot. In 1938, the main church office moved to a newer church. St. Peter in Chains became a regular parish church and continued to get older.
But in the mid-1950s, the church got a big makeover! It was carefully fixed up and made larger. New parts were added, like new wings and offices. The church was celebrated and opened again as a cathedral on November 3, 1957.
In 1977, a special visitor came to the cathedral. It was Karol Wojtyla, an Archbishop from Poland. The next year, he became Pope John Paul II! Many Catholic bishops have been made bishops in this church. It is also a popular place for weddings and for new priests to be ordained each year.
See also
