Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes (Spokane, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes |
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 Location in Spokane riverfront area
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| 47°39′29″N 117°25′43″W / 47.6580°N 117.4285°W | |
| Location | 1115 W. Riverside Ave. Spokane, Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | http://spokanecathedral.com |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Julian and Williams |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Completed | 1908 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | Two |
| Spire height | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Spokane |
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes is a big Catholic church in Spokane, Washington, United States. It's the main church for the Spokane area. This important building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its history and design.
History of the Cathedral
The story of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish began a long time ago, in August 1881. That's when the very first Catholic Mass was held in Spokane! It happened in a simple carpenter's shop, which was named St. Joseph.
Just five years later, a new brick church was built and given the name Our Lady of Lourdes. The Sisters of the Holy Names also opened a school for the parish. The first stone for the current church building was placed in 1903. A new school building was finished three years later.
On December 17, 1913, St. Pius X created the Diocese of Spokane. Our Lady of Lourdes was then chosen to be the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese.
Inside and Out: The Cathedral's Design
The cathedral is built in a style called Italian Romanesque Revival. This means it looks like old Roman buildings, but with a new twist! The outside of the church is made of red brick with fancy granite details.
Two tall, square towers stand at the front of the building. They reach a height of about 164 feet (50 meters)!
The inside of the cathedral was updated in 2019. The area around the altar was covered in beautiful marble. A new marble altar and new pews (the long benches where people sit) were also added. The old main altar, which has a scene of Calvary (where Jesus was crucified), is still in the back of the church.
The bishop's special chair, called a cathedra, is a mix of old and new parts. It includes pieces from the original chair from 1913 and a marble one from the 1930s, with new additions from 2018. The restored marble pulpit, where sermons are given, was also made possible by generous gifts.
The cathedral has a large pipe organ in the loft. The amazing stained glass windows, which show colorful pictures when light shines through them, came all the way from Bavaria in Germany.
Want to Learn More?
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (Spokane) para niños
