Cathedral of Saint Paul (Birmingham, Alabama) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Paul |
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| 33°31′4.05″N 86°48′16.54″W / 33.5177917°N 86.8045944°W | |
| Location | 2120 Third Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Adolphus Druiding |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
| Completed | 1893 |
| Construction cost | $90,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | Two |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama |
The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a very important Catholic church in Birmingham, Alabama. It's also known as Saint Paul's Cathedral. It serves as the main church for the Catholic community in the area. A famous architect named Adolphus Druiding designed this beautiful brick building in a style called Neo-Gothic. It was finished in 1893.
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A Look Back at Saint Paul's Cathedral
The church started as a regular parish church in 1872. The first stone for the building shows both the 1872 start date and the 1893 completion date. In 1969, it became a "cathedral." This means it's the main church for the Diocese of Birmingham. A diocese is like a special area that a bishop oversees.
Important People and Events
One of the most well-known leaders of the church was Father James Coyle. People hope to move his remains from Elmwood Cemetery to the cathedral. This is part of a process to recognize him as a saint.
The person who built the church was Lawrence Scully. He was convinced to move to Birmingham just to work on this project. Sadly, he died right before the church was finished. His horse-drawn carriage was scared by a car, and he was killed. Lawrence Scully also built one of Birmingham's first public schools, called the Powell School.
In 1982, the church building and its school were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important places that are worth protecting because of their history.
Beautiful Features of the Cathedral
The stunning stained-glass windows you see in the church's aisles were made by G. C. Riordan & Company. They were put in place when the church first opened. The large window above the entrance shows Saint Paul. It was put in during 1972. It replaced an older window that had been damaged in a storm.
In 2022, the cathedral got a new pipe organ. It's in the choir area, in front of the Saint Paul window. The old organ used to block the window completely. But with the new organ, called the Anna Catharine Grace Memorial Pipe Organ, you can now see the top of the window.
Leaders of Saint Paul's Cathedral
Here is a list of the main leaders, called Pastors and Rectors, who have served Saint Paul's over the years:
- Father John J. Browne, 1880-1886
- Father Patrick A. O‘Reilly, 1888-1904
- Father James E. Coyle, 1904-1921
- Father William A. Kerrigan, 1922-1935
- Father Eugene L. Sands, 1936-1949
- Father Francis J. Foley, 1951-1953
- Father Francis J. McCormack, 1953-1967
- Father George W. Keyes, 1967-1971
- Father John M. Horgan, 1971-1979
- Father J. Peter Sheehan, 1979-1991
- Father Patrick P. Cullen, 1991-2001
- Father Richard Donohoe, 2001-2009
- Father Kevin Bazzel, 2009-2016
- Father Bryan Jerabek, 2016-present
See also
