Cathedral Church of St. John (Albuquerque, New Mexico) facts for kids
{{Infobox church |name = Cathedral Church of St. John |fullname = |image = Cathedral Church of St. John Albuquerque (cropped).jpg |imagesize = 250px |imagelink = |imagealt = |landscape = |caption = The cathedral in July, 2012
|pushpin map = USA New Mexico |pushpin label position = none |pushpin map alt = |pushpin mapsize = |map caption = |coordinates = 35°04′56.2″N 106°39′6.54″W / 35.082278°N 106.6518167°W |osgraw = |osgridref = |location = 318 Silver Avenue SW
Albuquerque, New Mexico |country = United States |denomination = Episcopal Church in the United States of America |previous denomination = |churchmanship = |membership = |attendance = |website = |former name = |bull date = |founded date = 1882 |founder = |dedication = |dedicated date = November 11, 1952 |consecrated date = |cult = |relics = |events = |past bishop = |people =
|status = |functional status = |heritage designation = |designated date = |architect = John Gaw Meem |architectural type = |style = Gothic Revival |groundbreaking = 1951 |completed date = 1952 |construction cost = |closed date = |demolished date =
|capacity = |length = |width = |width nave = |height = |diameter = |other dimensions = |floor count = |floor area = |spire quantity = |spire height = |materials = |bells = |bells hung = |bell weight =
|diocese = Rio Grande
|bishop = Michael Buerkel-Hunn |dean = Kristina Maulden
The Cathedral Church of St. John is a special church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It belongs to the Episcopal Church. This church is the main church, or "seat," for the Diocese of the Rio Grande. In 2018, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
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St. John's Cathedral
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| MPS | Buildings Designed by John Gaw Meem MPS |
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| NRHP reference No. | 100003029 |
| Added to NRHP | October 19, 2018 |
A Look Back: The History of St. John's
How St. John's Began
St. John's Church started a long time ago, in 1882. Land was bought for $5,000 at the corner of Fourth Street and Silver Avenue. The first church building was built there in the same year. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looked like old European cathedrals. The building was made from red Arizona sandstone and brick. It also had a tall bell tower at one corner.
The very first church service was held in November 1882. Bishop George Kelly Dunlop led the service. There were 33 people who attended that day.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1920, the leaders of St. John's decided to try something new. They passed a rule to make St. John's the main church, or "cathedral," for the area. This was a trial for one year. Three years later, in 1923, new rules were made. St. John's officially became the cathedral church.
Building the New Cathedral
Later, a person named Henry R.A. O’Malley became the dean of the church. He helped raise $25,000 to build a new Cathedral House. This building would hold offices for the church and the larger church district. A famous architect from Santa Fe named John Gaw Meem designed it. The first stone for this building was laid on Easter Sunday in 1930.
In 1950, John Gaw Meem was asked to design a brand new cathedral. This new building would replace the older church. Meem's design kept the front and side entrances from the old church. He also kept the bell tower. But he added a much bigger main area called a nave. The new part was built in a modern Gothic style. It used brick and stone that had been used before.
Work on the new cathedral began the day after Easter in 1951. The first church services in the new building were held on October 5, 1952. The church was officially opened and dedicated on November 11, 1952.
See Also
