Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Rapid City, South Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral ofOur Lady of Perpetual Help |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Location in South Dakota
Location in the United States
|
|
| 44°03′36″N 103°13′39″W / 44.05995°N 103.22762°W | |
| Location | 606 Cathedral Drive Rapid City, South Dakota |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | cathedralolph.org |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish church |
| Dedication | May 7, 1963 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Adrian L. Forrette |
| Style | Modern |
| Groundbreaking | 1960 |
| Completed | 1962 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Length | 235 feet (72 m) |
| Number of spires | One |
| Spire height | 107 feet (33 m) |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Rapid City |
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a large Catholic church in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States. It was finished in 1962. This church is special because it's the main church, or "cathedral," for the Diocese of Rapid City. It's the third cathedral this area has had!
History of the Cathedral
The area's Catholic community, called the Diocese of Rapid City, started in 1902. Back then, it was known as the Diocese of Lead. The first main church, or cathedral, was St. Patrick's in Lead.
In 1930, the main city for the diocese moved to Rapid City. So, a church downtown called St. Mary's Church became the new cathedral. Over time, the church became too small for everyone who wanted to attend. Sometimes, church services even had to be held in the school gym!
Because of this, Bishop William T. McCarty decided it was time to build a brand new, bigger cathedral. A kind person named Katherine Wapole donated land for the new church in memory of her husband, William. This land was on the edge of Rapid City.
The new Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was designed by Adrian L. Forrette. Construction began in 1960 and was finished in 1962. The church was named after "Our Lady of Perpetual Help," which is a famous religious painting from Rome. The cathedral was officially opened and blessed on May 7, 1963. It has a large social hall downstairs and a rectory (where the priests live) nearby.
Later, in 1983, a bigger pipe organ was added to the church. In 2012, the bells in the bell tower were updated with a new computer system. In 2019, construction started on a large new addition to the church. This new part will have a hall, classrooms, meeting rooms, and a kitchen for the community.
Design and Architecture
The cathedral is a Mid-century modern style building. It looks like a rectangle with a curved roof. The building is made of strong concrete and covered with beautiful stone.
On the north side of the church, there's a tall bell tower that is about 107 feet (33 m) high. It has an 18-foot (5.5 m) cross on top. On the other side, near the main entrance, there's a special room for baptisms. There's also a chapel that is about 55-by-35-foot (17 by 11 m) next to the main altar area.
The front of the church has many colorful glass panels with stone designs. Above the three main doors, there's a wavy, overhanging roof. The steps leading up to the church are made of granite. The cathedral sits on top of a hill, so you can see it from many parts of Rapid City!
Inside, the main part of the church, called the nave, is about 235-foot (72 m) long. It has eighteen tall, narrow stained glass windows that let in colorful light. The ceiling is curved like a barrel. The church can seat 1,000 people in a wider section of the nave.
Above the marble altar, there's a large painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The bishop's special chair, called a "cathedra," is made from hand-carved walnut wood and is located to the left of the altar. Different types of beautiful marble from Italy were used throughout the inside of the church.
See also
