Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (Houston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Churchmanship | Anglican Use |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Our Lady Of Walsingham Catholic Church |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | James Moore and James Ramsey |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Walsingham |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Neo-Gothic |
| Completed | 2003 |
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham is a special Catholic church in Houston, Texas. It serves as the main church, or cathedral, for a group called the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. This group helps people who used to be part of the Anglican Church join the Catholic Church while keeping some of their old traditions.
The church was first started in 1984. It was founded by priests who used to be in the Episcopal Church. They wanted to become Catholic but also keep some of their Anglican ways. The church moved to its current spot in 1992, and the building you see today was finished in 2003.
When the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was created, this church became its most important parish. Now, it's the ordinariate's cathedral. The church looks like older churches from England, with a style called Neo-Gothic. It was the first church in the United States named after Our Lady of Walsingham. The church services follow a special Catholic way called Divine Worship: The Missal.
Contents
History
In 1980, Pope John Paul II made a special rule called the Pastoral Provision. This rule allowed Anglicans to become Catholic while still keeping some of their Anglican traditions. In 1982, two priests named James Moore and James Ramsey left their roles in the Episcopal Church. They wanted to become Catholic priests.
During this time, Moore and Ramsey held small weekly meetings. They called their group "Our Lady of Walsingham." A bishop named John Louis Morkovsky allowed them to meet and worship at a local church. On April 7, 1984, Moore and Ramsey became Catholic priests. They were then made co-pastors of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church.
The church moved to different places over the next few years. In 1992, it moved to its current location. A small new church building was built there.
In 1999, the church received a large gift of $1 million. This money helped them plan for a bigger church building. The new church was designed by architects Cram & Ferguson. It was officially opened in 2003. The old church building then became a church hall, named St. Jude Hall.
The church property grew even more. Offices, a classroom building, and an outdoor shrine were added. These new parts were officially opened in May 2011.
.jpg)
On January 1, 2012, something very important happened. The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter was officially created. Our Lady of Walsingham became the main church for this new ordinariate. In 2014, a special office building called a chancery was built on the church grounds. This building helps manage the ordinariate's activities.
On February 2, 2016, Steven J. Lopes became the first bishop of the ordinariate. With Bishop Lopes becoming a bishop, Our Lady of Walsingham was given the special title of a cathedral.
In 2019, the Pope Benedict XVI House of Formation was built. This is a place where future priests for the ordinariate study and train. It is located across the street from the chancery.
In 2022, the Cathedral High School opened its doors. It welcomed its first group of ninth-grade students.
Architecture
The church has unique designs that show its Anglican history. The outside of the church is covered in limestone. Its style is inspired by churches from the 14th century in Walsingham, England.
Inside, the church has a Neo-Gothic style. You can see beautiful stained glass windows. The wooden furniture inside was carved by hand in Colombia. The church bells were made in Normandy, France. The large decorated screen behind the altar, called a reredos, and the special box for the Eucharist, called a tabernacle, were made by hand in Spain.
The church's design uses elements from Gothic buildings. These buildings were popular from the 12th to the 16th centuries. You can see pointed arches and sloped roofs on the church's exterior and in the shrine areas.
Shrine
The church is named after Our Lady of Walsingham. It has a very old and special piece of history. The church holds a fragment from the eastern window of the original priory in Walsingham, England. This piece dates back to the 12th century.
Clergy
Before 2010, the priests at this church were mostly former Episcopalian clergy. They had joined the local Catholic diocese. Some of these priests were married, which is unusual for Catholic priests, but allowed for those coming from the Anglican tradition.
After 2010, a new main priest, called a rector, was appointed. His name is Charles Hough IV. Several other priests help him with his duties. All the current priests at the cathedral are married and have children.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Walsingham (Houston) para niños
