Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption (Covington, Kentucky) Facts for Kids

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St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	1130 Madison Avenue Covington, Kentucky
Area	10 acres (4.0 ha)
Built	1901
Architect	David Davis
Architectural style	Late Gothic Revival, Other, French Gothic
NRHP reference No.	73000812
Added to NRHP	July 20, 1973

St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption is a beautiful and historic Catholic church located in Covington, Kentucky. It's not just a regular church; it's also a special type of church called a minor basilica in the United States. Building this grand church started in 1895 because the old church from 1834 was too small for everyone. The third bishop of the Covington area, Camillus Paul Maes, began its construction. Later, in 1953, Pope Pius XII gave it the special title of "minor basilica."

About St. Mary's Cathedral
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About St. Mary's Cathedral

This amazing church was designed by an architect named Leon Coquard from Detroit. He was inspired by the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The first church services were held here in 1901. The front part of the church, facing Madison Avenue, was added a few years later, between 1908 and 1910.

Building Materials and Size

The cathedral is built from a strong material called Bedford stone. Its roofs are covered with red tiles. The building is quite large, measuring about 194 feet long and 144 feet wide. Inside, the main area, called the nave, reaches a height of 81 feet! The construction of the cathedral mostly finished in 1915. However, it's still not completely done, as two tall towers that were planned were never built.

Inside the Cathedral

The inside of St. Mary's Cathedral was designed to look like the St. Denis Basilica in France. You can see beautiful murals painted by a local artist from Covington named Frank Duveneck. The main altar is carved from special Carrara marble, and the floors are made of different kinds of marble.

The Giant Stained Glass Window

One of the most famous things about the cathedral is its huge stained glass window. It's said to be the largest handmade church stained glass window in the world! This amazing window is 67 feet tall and 24 feet wide.

The top part of the window shows the Coronation of Mary, which is when Mary is crowned queen after she is taken up to heaven. The bottom part shows an important meeting called the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus from 431 AD. At this meeting, Mary was declared 'Theotokos,' which means 'God-Bearer' or 'Mother of God.' This incredible window was made in Germany and put in place in 1911. It was carefully cleaned and fixed up in 2001.

The Pipe Organs

The cathedral has three different pipe organs. One large organ is in the south part of the church. It was designed by Henry Willis III and was blessed in 1933. This organ was later made even bigger in 1982.

Another organ is located in the west part of the church, below a round window. This organ was originally built in 1858 for another church in Covington. When that church was torn down in 1970, this organ was moved to St. Mary's. It still has many of its original parts. In 2002, the cathedral also bought a smaller, portable organ that can be moved around for different events.

New Statues at the Entrance

In 2021, 24 new statues were placed in empty spaces at the cathedral's entrance. These statues help complete the building's front, which had been unfinished for a long time. An artist named Neilson Carlin designed them. Each statue honors different churches and groups in the local area. They are made from the same type of stone as the original church.

Above the northernmost door, there is a carving showing the Annunciation, which is when the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would have a baby. The statues nearby include Saint John the Baptist, Saint Barbara, Saint James the Great, Saint Agnes, Saint William of York, and Saint Timothy.

Above the central doors, there is a carving showing the Assumption of Mary, with a statue of Mary in the middle. The eight statues around them include Pope Saint Pius X, Saint Patrick, Saint Benedict, Saint Joseph, Saint Boniface, Saint Henry, Saint Catherine of Siena, and Saint Charles Borromeo.

Above the southernmost doors, there is a carving of the Coronation of Mary. The statues nearby include Saint Augustine, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Saint Anne, Saint Bernard, Saint Rose of Lima, and Saint John the Evangelist. Four more statues are on the front supports of the cathedral: Saint Thomas More, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.