Cathedral of Saint Paul (Birmingham, Alabama) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Paul |
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Cathedral of Saint Paul in 2025
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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 an important Roman Catholic church in Birmingham, Alabama. It is the main church, or mother church, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. The church was designed by an architect from Chicago named Adolphus Druiding.
Built in a style called Victorian Gothic, the beautiful brick building was finished in 1893. The community it serves, called a parish, was started even earlier, in 1872. In 1969, when the Diocese of Birmingham was created, the church was given the special title of cathedral.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Paul has a long and interesting past. The church building and its school were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means they are recognized as important historical sites in the United States.
Building the Church
A contractor named Lawrence Scully moved to Birmingham to build the cathedral. Sadly, just before the church was finished, he died in an accident with his horse-drawn carriage. Mr. Scully also built one of the first public schools in Birmingham.
Father James Coyle
One of the most well-known pastors of the church was Father James E. Coyle. He served from 1904 until 1921. Some people in the church hope to have him recognized as a martyr, which is a person honored for their great faith.
Architecture and Art
The cathedral is known for its beautiful design and artwork, especially its stained-glass windows and pipe organ.
Stained-Glass Windows
The colorful stained-glass windows along the sides of the church were made by G. C. Riordan & Company from Cincinnati. They have been part of the cathedral since it first opened. The large window above the entrance shows Saint Paul. It was installed in 1972 after an older window was damaged in a storm.
The Pipe Organ
In 2022, the cathedral installed a new pipe organ, called the Anna Catharine Grace Memorial Pipe Organ. It was built by the Noack Organ Company. The old organ used to block the big Saint Paul window, but the new one is designed so you can see the top of the beautiful window above it.
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A view down the main aisle, called the nave.
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The cathedral's large pipe organ.
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A close-up of a stained-glass window.
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The bishop's special chair, called a cathedra.
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The school building next to the cathedral.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Pablo (Birmingham) para niños
