Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Charleston, South Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist |
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Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Charleston
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| 32°46′35.4″N 79°56′4.2″W / 32.776500°N 79.934500°W | |
| Location | 120 Broad Street Charleston, South Carolina  |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1800 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Patrick C. Keely Decimus C. Barbot Ruben Solar (belfry & spire) |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1890 |
| Completed | 1907 (Spire-2010) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | Upper church – 720 Lower church – 200 |
| Length | 200 ft (61 m) |
| Width | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Number of spires | One |
| Spire height | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Materials | Connecticut tool-chiseled brownstone |
| Bells | Three |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Charleston |
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a very important church. It is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. You can find it in Charleston, South Carolina.
A famous architect named Patrick Keely designed the church. He used a style called Gothic Revival. The church first opened its doors in 1907. The current leader, Bishop Jacques E. Fabre, started his role on May 13, 2022.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The first church on this spot was built in 1854. It was also made of brownstone. This church was called the Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar. Sadly, a huge fire in December 1861 destroyed it.
The new cathedral was built on the same foundations. It was named for St. John the Baptist. The same architect, Patrick Keely, designed both the first church and this new one.
The first stone for the new building was placed in 1890. A special leader named James Cardinal Gibbons did this. The church officially opened in 1907. It can hold 720 people inside.
The cathedral is famous for its beautiful Franz Mayer & Co. stained-glass windows. It also has hand-painted pictures showing the Stations of the Cross. The church's style is called neo-gothic architecture.
Underneath the main church, there is a crypt. This is a special burial place. Bishop England and four other Charleston bishops are buried there. His sister, Joanna, is also buried with him.
The tall spire on top of the church was not built right away. There wasn't enough money at the time. The church was finally finished on March 25, 2010. That's when the steeple and bells were added.
Building Style and Materials
Patrick Keely designed the cathedral in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like older European churches. It is built from strong Connecticut brownstone. The wooden benches inside are made of carved Flemish oak.
Some changes were made to the original plans during rebuilding. These changes were done by D.C. Barbot.
Special Chapels Inside
- Sacred Heart Chapel – This chapel is next to the bishop's special chair. It used to be called the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. It has seven windows that show symbols related to the Eucharist. In 2009, it became the Sacred Heart Chapel. It holds a statue of Jesus with his hands open in blessing.
- Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel – This chapel has a beautiful Italian Marble statue. It shows the Madonna and Child. A German artist named Ferdinand Pettrich made it. The statue is special because Mary is shown without a head covering. She holds baby Jesus as a toddler. This statue is sometimes called Our Lady of the South. The chapel has seven windows with symbols about Mary.
- Our Lady of Grace Chapel – This chapel is in the lower part of the church. It used to be used for daily Masses. It has eight stained-glass windows. These windows came from another church that was closed. Today, this chapel is mostly used for extra space or as a gathering area.
- Saint John the Baptist Crypt Chapel – This is where the first five bishops of Charleston are buried. Bishop John England and his sister are here too. The bishops get ready for Mass in this chapel. It has an altar with a hand-painted picture of St. John the Baptist. The windows in this chapel are made from pieces of windows from another old church.
Amazing Stained-Glass Windows
The cathedral is famous for its Franz Mayer & Co. stained-glass windows. Some of these windows are truly unique.
- Rose Windows – Above the three main doors, there are round "rose" windows. Their design is very special. Each one has a coat of arms in the middle.
- The Main Doors have Bishop Northop's coat of arms.
- The East Doors show South Carolina's coat of arms.
- The West Doors have Pope Pius X's coat of arms.
- Life of Christ Windows – Large windows along the sides of the lower church show scenes from the life of Jesus.
- Gallery of the Saints – The windows in the upper part of the church are called the Gallery of the Saints. They show 28 different saints.
- Sanctuary Windows – Windows near the main altar show the four evangelists. Above the High Altar is the Chancel window. It has a rose window at the top. This shows St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Below this is a copy of Da Vinci's famous painting, Last Supper.
The Grand Organ
The main organ in the church is a Bedient Pipe Organ. It has two keyboards and many different sounds. This organ was first put in a church in Louisville, Kentucky in 1986. Then, in 1995, it was moved and set up in this cathedral.
Church Updates and Renovations
In 2007, leaders of the church announced plans for big renovations. They wanted to finish the cathedral almost 100 years after it opened.
The beautiful stained-glass windows were cleaned and fixed in December 2007. The brownstone outside was also repaired. After 103 years, a tall spire with three bells was finally added to the top. This big project cost $6.2 million and was finished on March 25, 2010.
More work on the inside of the church started in 2019.
Cathedral Leaders
Bishops
- The Most Reverend Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, is the current Bishop of Charleston.
Rectors of the Cathedral
- Very Reverend Gregory Wilson, V.G. (2023-present)
The Tall Spire and Bell Tower
The cathedral, with its new spire, is now the seventh tallest building in Charleston. The spire is covered in shiny copper lattice. A large, golden Celtic cross sits at its very top.
The arches below the spire are made from a special fiberglass. This material is often used in building ships. It is covered in copper. The bell tower section is also made of brown stone. It has copper vents for the bells. The new spire was designed using an old drawing of the church from 1851.
The Bells
The three bells were placed in the tower on November 16, 2009. These bells are made of bronze. When they ring together, they make an E major chord.
The bells were made in France by Christoph Paccard Bell Foundries. Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone blessed them on October 15, 2009.
- Saint Therese
- Note: B-3
- Saint Finbar
- Note: G#-3
- Maria Stella Maris (This means Mary, Star of the Sea in Latin)
- Note: E-3
Music at the Cathedral
Director of Music
- Scott Powell is the current Director of Sacred Music (2019 to present).
Choirs
- The Cathedral Choir is the main choir that sings during services.
Images for kids
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Cathedral without a steeple as it stood for nearly one hundred years
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See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Juan Bautista (Charleston) para niños
