Cathedral Church of St. Luke (Portland, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Luke's Cathedral |
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The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke | |
43°39′8.25″N 70°15′52.37″W / 43.6522917°N 70.2645472°W | |
Location | 143 State St. Portland, Maine |
Country | United States |
Denomination | Episcopal Church |
History | |
Founded | 1851 |
Founder(s) | Rt. Rev. Horatio Southgate |
Dedication | Saint Luke |
Consecrated | October 18, 1877 |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Charles Coolidge Haight |
Style | Gothic Revival |
Groundbreaking | 1867 |
Completed | 1868 |
Construction cost | $115,000 |
Specifications | |
Length | 130 feet (40 m) |
Nave width | 60 feet (18 m) |
Height | 60 feet (18 m) |
Materials | Limestone |
Administration | |
Diocese | Maine |
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke is a special church called a cathedral. It's located in Portland, Maine, in the United States. This church is part of the Episcopal Church. It's the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine.
Contents
History of St. Luke's Cathedral
The story of St. Luke's Church began in 1851. It was started by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Southgate. He was from Portland and had been a missionary bishop.
The first church building was on Congress Street. It was near Longfellow Square in Portland's West End. By 1866, St. Luke's had grown a lot. It became the biggest church in Maine.
Becoming a Cathedral
Because it was so large, St. Luke's was chosen to be the main church for the diocese. A diocese is like a church district. The first stone for the new cathedral was placed on August 15, 1867. This stone is called a cornerstone.
The building was designed by Charles Coolidge Haight. He was an architect from New York. The church was built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old European cathedrals.
The first church services in the new building were held on Christmas Day in 1868. The old church building was sold to another church. The new cathedral was officially dedicated on October 18, 1877. This happened after all the building costs were paid off.
Changes and Additions Over Time
Many new things have been added to the cathedral over the years. In 1898, a beautiful stained-glass window was installed. It's called the Augustus R. Wright Memorial Rose Window.
From 1904 to 1905, the Emmanuel Chapel was built. A special memorial for Bishop Neely was also added. In 1925, the main altar area got new decorations. These included a silver cross and candlesticks.
A large pipe organ was built in 1928. It was made by Skinner. In 1957, a new entrance was added. It's called the deWolfe Belfry. This part was designed by Cram & Ferguson.
In 1985, the church's parish house was badly damaged by a fire. Repairs were finished two years later. A new altar table was put in place in 1990. In 2003, the cathedral went through a big renovation. This project cost $1.2 million.