Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Lafayette, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception |
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St. Mary's Cathedral in 2023
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| Location | 1207 Columbia St. Lafayette, Indiana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish |
| Founded | 1843 (parish) |
| Dedication | Immaculate Conception |
| Dedicated | August 15, 1866 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1861 |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | one |
| Spire height | 170 feet (52 m) |
| Materials | Brick/Concrete |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Lafayette in Indiana |
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful church in Lafayette, Indiana. It is a very important church for the Roman Catholic community in the area. This church is also part of the historic St. Mary Historic District. It stands at 1207 Columbia Street.
Contents
History of Saint Mary's Cathedral
Early Beginnings and First Church
The story of this church began in 1843. A small group of Irish Catholic families lived in the area. They met for church services in rented rooms.
By 1844, they had saved enough money. They built their very own church building. This first church was made of brick. It was called the Church of Sts. Mary and Martha. It was finished in 1846. This church was located at Fifth and Brown Streets.
In 1850, a school was built next to the church. The Oblate Sisters of Providence started managing the school in 1858.
Building the Current Cathedral
In 1860, a church member named Lawrence Stockton gave some land. He donated it to Reverend Edmund Kilroy. This land on Columbia Street was for a new church, a rectory (where the priest lives), and a school.
Work on the new church started soon after. However, it stopped in April 1861. This was because the American Civil War began.
Reverend George Hamilton took over as the pastor. He made sure the construction was finished. The new church was built in the Gothic Revival style. It was officially opened on August 15, 1866.
Features and Changes Over Time
The main tower of the church is very tall. It reaches about 170 feet (52 meters) high. Inside, the church has three main sections. These sections are separated by columns.
Beautiful frescos (wall paintings) and stained glass windows were added in 1887. The outside of the church was originally made of brick. In 1904, it was covered with concrete. This made it look like it was made of stone. The front staircase and the decorative railing were also finished that same year.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1944, something very important happened. The Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana was created. This new diocese was formed by dividing the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
St. Mary's Church was chosen to be the main church for this new diocese. This means it became a cathedral. A cathedral is the main church for a bishop.
The cathedral has been updated several times. Major renovations happened in 1933, 1976, and 2001. In 2001, a social hall was added.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción (Lafayette) para niños
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- St. Mary Historic District
Images for kids
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Cathedral interior
