Cathedral of Saint Andrew (Grand Rapids, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Andrew |
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East façade on the Piazza Secchia
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 Location in Michigan
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| 42°57′29″N 85°40′02″W / 42.95804°N 85.66713°W | |
| Location | 215 Sheldon Blvd. SE Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1833 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 192 feet (59 m) |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Tenor bell weight | 213 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Grand Rapids |
The Cathedral of Saint Andrew is a Catholic cathedral located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. It is the main church for the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
Contents
The Cathedral's Story
The story of Saint Andrew's began in 1833. A priest named Rev. Frederic Baraga built a small church, a house for the priest (called a rectory), and a school. These buildings were on the west side of the Grand River. The first people who went to this church were Native Americans.
Building the First Churches
Two years later, Rev. Andreas Viszoczky became the first official pastor of the church. As the Native American community moved away and the town of Grand Rapids grew, Father Viszoczky built a new church. This new church was on Monroe Street and he named it Saint Andrew. It was made from Grand River limestone and finished in 1850.
A New Cathedral for a Growing City
Grand Rapids kept growing, and so did the church community. Soon, they needed an even bigger church. In 1875, construction began on the current church building on Sheldon Boulevard. It was completed just one year later.
On May 19, 1882, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Grand Rapids. This meant Grand Rapids would have its own bishop and a main church. The first bishop, Henry J. Richter, chose Saint Andrew's as his cathedral. He was officially made bishop there on April 22, 1883.
Changes and Renovations Over Time
In 1901, lightning struck the cathedral, and a fire damaged part of the building. It was rebuilt and made even larger. You can still see some burnt marks on the wooden beams above the ceiling from that fire!
In the 1950s, a television studio was set up inside the cathedral. This allowed them to show a weekly Sunday Mass on TV. Today, the cameras are modern, allowing for digital broadcasts. The cathedral was expanded again between 1961 and 1963. During this time, the Saint Ambrose Chapel wing was added. A nearby street was closed to create a green space around the church.
More big changes happened from 1979 to 1980. The altar was moved closer to the people attending church. A special area for priests to get ready and for people to gather was also created. From 1997 to 2000, another major renovation took place. A baptismal pool was added, and the beautiful stained glass windows were cleaned and repaired. The Stations of the Cross were also restored. The current pipe organ was put in place in 2002.
The front entrance of the cathedral was updated in 2009. A new outdoor area called the Piazza Secchia was built. It was designed to look like the famous piazza created by Michelangelo in Rome.
See also
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
Images for kids
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In Spanish: Catedral de San Andrés (Grand Rapids) para niños
