Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (Houston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham |
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| 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 Catholic church in Houston, Texas. It is the main church for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. This special group allows people who used to be Anglican to become Catholic while keeping some of their old traditions.
The church started in 1984. It was founded by priests who had previously served in the Episcopal Church. The church moved to different places before settling at its current spot in 1992. The main church building was finished in 2003.
When the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was created, this church became its most important parish. It now serves as the ordinariate's cathedral, which is the main church for a bishop. The church looks like older Neo-Gothic style churches from England. It was the first church in the United States named after Our Lady of Walsingham.
How the Church Started
In 1980, Pope John Paul II made a special rule. This rule allowed Anglicans to join the Catholic Church. They could still keep some of their Anglican traditions. In 1982, two priests, James Moore and James Ramsey, decided to become Catholic.
During this time, Moore and Ramsey held small meetings every week. They called their group "Our Lady of Walsingham." A bishop allowed them to worship at a local church. On April 7, 1984, Moore and Ramsey became Catholic priests. They were then named co-pastors of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church.
The church moved a few times over the next years. In 1992, it moved to its current location. A small new church building was built there.
In 1999, the church received a large donation. This money helped them plan a bigger church. The new building was designed by Cram & Ferguson architects. It was officially opened in 2003. The older church building became a church hall called St. Jude Hall.
The church area grew even more in 2011. New offices, a classroom building, and an outdoor shrine were added. These new parts were also officially opened in May 2011.
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On January 1, 2012, the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter was created. Our Lady of Walsingham became its main church. In 2014, an office building called a chancery was built on the church grounds. This building helps manage the ordinariate's work.
On February 2, 2016, Steven J. Lopes became the first bishop of the ordinariate. With Bishop Lopes becoming bishop, Our Lady of Walsingham became a cathedral.
In 2019, the Pope Benedict XVI House of Formation was built. This is a place for students training to become priests. It is located near the chancery.
In 2022, Cathedral High School opened its doors. It welcomed its first group of students.
Church Design
The church has special designs that remind people of Anglican heritage. The outside is covered in limestone. This style is inspired by 14th-century churches from Walsingham, England. The inside of the church is Neo-Gothic. It has beautiful stained glass windows. The wooden furniture inside was carved in Colombia.
The church bells were made in Normandy, France. The reredos (a screen behind the altar) and the tabernacle (a place to keep sacred items) were handmade in Spain.
The design shows elements from Gothic buildings. These buildings were common from the 12th to the 16th centuries. You can see pointed arches and sloped roofs on the church's exterior and shrine areas.
The Shrine
The church is named after Our Lady of Walsingham. It has a special piece of history. This piece is a fragment of an eastern window. This window was part of the original priory (a type of monastery) in Walsingham, England. That priory dates back to the 12th century.
Church Leaders
The church is led by a rector, Charles Hough IV. Several other priests help him with his duties. Many of the priests at the cathedral are married and have children.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Walsingham (Houston) para niños
