Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Paul
National Shrine of the Apostle Paul

44°56′49″N 93°06′32″W / 44.94694°N 93.10889°W / 44.94694; -93.10889
Location	239 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Cathedral, national shrine
Consecrated	1958
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Previous cathedrals	First Second Third
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 grand Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It serves as the main church for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, sharing this role with the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.

Sitting on a hill that overlooks downtown Saint Paul, the cathedral is famous for its huge, shiny copper dome. It is named after Paul the Apostle, who is also the namesake of the city. The building you see today opened in 1915. It is the fourth cathedral in the city's history to have this name.

In 2009, the cathedral was given a special title: the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul. It is one of the largest and most impressive cathedrals in the United States.

History of the Cathedral
Architecture and Art
Important Moments at the Cathedral
The Cathedral Today
Images for kids
See also

History of the Cathedral

The story of the Cathedral of Saint Paul involves four different buildings, each one built as the city grew.

The First Three Cathedrals

The very first church was a small log chapel. It was built in 1841 by a priest named Father Lucien Galtier. At the time, the town was known as "Pig's Eye." The chapel was tiny, only about 25 feet by 18 feet. When the Diocese of St. Paul was created in 1851, this little log chapel became its first cathedral.

But the city's population was growing fast. The first bishop, Joseph Crétin, knew they needed a bigger church. The second cathedral was a three-story building with a library, school, and living space for the bishop. Soon, even this building was too small.

In 1853, plans began for a third cathedral. It was built from stone and was much larger, but it was very plain to save money. By the time it was finished in 1858, the city had grown so much that leaders knew they would eventually need an even grander building.

Planning a Grand New Cathedral

By 1888, the church in Saint Paul had become an archdiocese, a very important region in the Catholic Church. This made the need for a new, magnificent cathedral even more urgent. Leaders wanted a new location away from the busy downtown area.

In 1904, they bought land on St. Anthony Hill, a spot with a great view. The property had an old mansion on it, which was torn down to make way for the new cathedral. To get enough space, they even had to move a whole street, Summit Avenue, over by 90 feet.

People were excited about the new cathedral. By 1906, they had donated over $435,000 to help build it, which was a huge amount of money back then.

Choosing the Architect

The archdiocese hired a famous French architect named Emmanuel Louis Masqueray. He was well-known for designing buildings for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. He was the perfect person to design a beautiful and impressive cathedral.

Building the Cathedral

The Kittson mansion was torn down to build the cathedral.

The first stone, called the cornerstone, was laid on June 2, 1907. Inside this stone, a copper box was placed as a time capsule. It contained newspapers, souvenirs, and a document written in Latin describing the special day.

The ceremony was a big event. Pope Pius X and President Theodore Roosevelt sent messages of congratulations. The governor and other leaders gave speeches. It was a very proud day for the city.

Opening the Doors

The first church service, or Mass, was held on Palm Sunday, March 15, 1915. Even though the building wasn't completely finished, over 2,500 people came to the early morning service. The doors had only been installed the day before!

The inside was still bare, with no stained-glass windows or statues. But thousands of people came to celebrate. The archbishop at the time, John Ireland, was so moved by the crowd that he cried. He called the new building a "noble edifice" and a monument to the faith of the people who helped build it.

It wasn't until 1958 that the cathedral was officially finished and consecrated, or blessed, in a special ceremony.

Keeping the Cathedral Beautiful

The original copper roof had a green color, called a patina. It was replaced in 2002.

By 2001, the cathedral's huge copper roof was 85 years old and needed to be replaced. A massive project began to install a new, weather-resistant roof. Workers also cleaned the granite on the outside of the building.

The project was finished in 2002. The new copper roof was a shiny brown color, which is different from the old green roof. Over time, copper naturally turns green when exposed to weather, a process called patination.

Architecture and Art

The cathedral was designed to be a breathtaking space for worship and art, with features that inspire visitors.

Design and Materials

An early floor plan of the cathedral from 1908

The cathedral is built in a style called "Classical Renaissance," which was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture. Its shape is a Greek Cross, which means all four arms of the cross are equal in length. This open design allows everyone inside to have a clear view of the altar.

The giant dome is 186 feet high, and the walls are made of granite from St. Cloud, Minnesota. Inside, the walls are covered in a beautiful stone called Travertine from Mankato, Minnesota. The tall columns are made from several different kinds of marble.

Amazing Artwork Inside

The mosaic of Temperance, one of the four cardinal virtues.

The cathedral is filled with stunning art.

Statues: In the four main corners of the church, there are huge marble statues of the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are the men who wrote the four Gospels in the Bible. Each statue is over 11 feet tall and weighs eight tons!
Mosaics: The inside of the dome features beautiful mosaics of the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.
Stained Glass: Twenty-four stained-glass windows fill the cathedral with light. They show choirs of angels. There are also three large, circular windows called rose windows.
Bronze Work: The main altar is covered by a bronze canopy called a baldachin. There are also massive bronze grilles that honor the life of Saint Paul.

Chapels of the Nations

The cathedral has six special chapels dedicated to the patron saints of the European groups who first settled in the Saint Paul area. These include:

St. Anthony for the Italians
St. John the Baptist for the French Canadians
St. Patrick for the Irish
St. Boniface for the Germans
Saints Cyril and Methodius for the Slavic peoples
St. Therese of Lisieux for missionaries

Each chapel has a piece of marble from the saint's home country. There are also chapels for the Sacred Heart, Mary (the mother of Jesus), Saint Joseph, and Saint Peter.

The Mighty Organs

The beautiful organ case was designed to match the cathedral's architecture.

The cathedral has two magnificent pipe organs. In 2013, one of the organs was restored, and a beautiful new wooden case was built for it. The case was hand-carved from walnut and features statues of angels and Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. To celebrate, a famous organist from the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, came to play a concert.

Important Moments at the Cathedral

Over the years, the cathedral has hosted many famous visitors and important events.

In 1936, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, who would later become Pope Pius XII, visited and celebrated Mass at the cathedral.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy attended Mass here during a visit to Minnesota. A special phone line to the White House was installed for his visit.
In 2016, the funeral for Philando Castile was held at the cathedral. His family requested the large space, and thousands of people attended the service.

The Cathedral Today

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is more than just a historic building. It is an active church with daily services and a welcoming place for visitors of all backgrounds. Its beauty, art, and history make it a true treasure of Minnesota.

Images for kids

The main altar inside the cathedral.
The front of the cathedral, known as the east façade.