Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Paul |
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| National Shrine of the Apostle Paul | |
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| 44°56′49″N 93°06′32″W / 44.94694°N 93.10889°W | |
| Location | 239 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral, national shrine |
| Consecrated | 1958 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Emmanuel Louis Masqueray |
| Style | Beaux-Arts architecture |
| Years built | 1906–1915 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Length | 307 feet (94 m) |
| Width | 216 feet (66 m) |
| Height | 306.5 feet (93.4 m) |
| Dome height (inner) | 175 feet (53 m) |
| Dome diameter (outer) | 120 feet (37 m) |
| Dome diameter (inner) | 96 feet (29 m) |
| Number of towers | 2 |
| Tower height | 150 feet (46 m) |
The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a large Catholic church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is one of the main churches for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. It shares this role with the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.
This cathedral is known for its unique look. It sits on Cathedral Hill, offering great views of downtown Saint Paul. A special feature is its copper-covered dome. The church is named after Paul the Apostle, just like the city of Saint Paul itself. The building you see today opened in 1915. It is the fourth church to serve as the main cathedral in this area. In 2009, it was named the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul. This makes it a very important Catholic site in the United States. It is also one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in the country.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Churches in Saint Paul
The very first church in this area was a small log cabin. It was built in 1841 by Father Lucien Galtier. At that time, the settlement was called "Pig's Eye." This small chapel became the first cathedral in 1851. This happened when Joseph Crétin became the first bishop of the new Diocese of St. Paul.
Bishop Crétin quickly started building a bigger church. The second church had three floors. It included a library, kitchen, and school. But even this building soon became too small. So, in 1853, plans began for a third cathedral. This stone church was finished in 1858. It was much larger, but it had little decoration to save money.
Building the Current Cathedral
The idea for the current cathedral came from Archbishop John Ireland in 1904. The land for the new church was once home to a large old mansion. Two businessmen, Charles H.F. Smith and Alpheus Beede Stickney, bought the land. They then gave it to the archdiocese.
Archbishop Ireland chose a famous French architect, Emmanuel Louis Masqueray. He was known for his Beaux-Arts architecture style. Construction of the cathedral began in 1906. Masqueray designed the cathedral based on French churches. These included Périgueux Cathedral and Sacre-Coeur basilica in Paris. He also used ideas from French Renaissance and Classical styles.
Masqueray's design made sure visitors could see the altar and pulpit clearly. He passed away in 1917. He had only finished designs for a few parts of the inside. These included three main chapels: Saint Peter's, Saint Joseph's, and the Blessed Virgin Mary's.
In 1987, the cathedral received five bronze bells. They were made in France. The copper dome was repaired and updated in 2002.
In 2013, the cathedral's large organ was restored. A new organ case was also added. It was designed by architect Duncan G Stroik. This case is made of hand-carved walnut. It protects the organ and still allows a view of the cathedral's rose window. Large carved angels stand on both sides of the organ case. A statue of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, is on top.
The cathedral is usually open every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it is an important historical site. On March 25, 2009, it was named a National shrine. This was the first in Minnesota. It is the only one in North America dedicated to the Apostle Paul. Because of this, it is also called the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul.
A future Pope, Eugenio Pacelli, visited the cathedral in 1937. This was two years before he became Pope in 1939. Many local Catholic high schools use the Cathedral for their graduation ceremonies each year.
Cathedral Design and Features
The dome of the cathedral is very large. It is about 76 feet (23 m) across and 186 feet (57 m) high. In the 1950s, the dome was painted with warm colors and gold leaf. The outside walls of the cathedral are made of Rockville granite. This stone comes from St. Cloud, Minnesota. The inside walls are made of American Travertine. This stone comes from Mankato, Minnesota. The tall columns inside are made of different kinds of marble.
The inside of the cathedral is lit by twenty-four stained glass windows. These windows show angels singing. There is also a beautiful rose window in the transept. It was designed by Charles Connick. Electric lights were added to the church in 1940.
You can see huge marble statues of the four evangelists inside. These are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They were sculpted by John Angel. Each statue is over 11 feet tall and weighs eight tons. They are placed in the corners of the church. This shows how their writings support the church.
The life of Saint Paul is honored with a bronze baldachin. This is a canopy over the altar. There are also large bronze grilles. The cathedral has six chapels. These are dedicated to the patron saints of different European groups. These groups settled the area around Saint Paul. They include St. Anthony for Italians, St. John the Baptist for French Canadians, St. Patrick for the Irish, St. Boniface for Germans, and Saints Cyril and Methodius for Slavs. There is also a chapel for St. Therese of Lisieux, honoring missionaries.
Other chapels are dedicated to the Sacred Heart, to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to Saint Joseph, her husband. There is also a chapel for Saint Peter.
See also
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List tallest domes
- List of tallest buildings in St. Paul
- List of shrines#United States
- St. Paul's Cathedral (disambiguation) for other Cathedrals of St. Paul
Other sources
- Ernster, Barb. "Cathedral is Catechism in Stone and Glass: National Shrine Honors Paul the Apostle". National Catholic Register, June 20, 2010, p. B5.
