Cathedral of Saint Peter (Belleville, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Peter |
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 Location in Illinois
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| 38°30′37″N 89°59′17″W / 38.5103°N 89.9880°W | |
| Location | 200 W. Harrison Street Belleville, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Website | cathedralbelle.org |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1866 (159 years ago) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,270 |
| Length | 265ft |
| Width | 65ft |
| Height | 222ft |
| Nave height | 90ft |
| Materials | dolomitic limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Belleville |
The Cathedral of Saint Peter is a very important church in Belleville, Illinois. It's the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville. This type of main church is called a cathedral.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
How the Church Started
The church started in 1842. It was first called Saint Barnabas the Apostle. In 1847, its name was changed to Saint Peter. By 1863, the church needed more space. So, a new brick church was built. It was finished and opened in 1866.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1887, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Belleville. This made the church even more important. Reverend John Janssen became the first bishop. He chose Saint Peter's as his main church, making it a cathedral.
The Big Fire of 1912
On January 4, 1912, something scary happened. Around 6 p.m., some children saw a fire in the top part of the building. Firefighters arrived quickly. But they had trouble putting out the fire. There wasn't enough water pressure to reach the roof, which was about 80 feet (24 meters) high. It was also very cold, about 15°F (-9°C).
Soon, the fire burned through the roof. The burning wood fell inside and started more fires. When the fire was finally out, only the outside walls and bell tower were left. One newspaper said the damage cost about $100,000. Insurance only covered $40,000 of the repairs.
Rebuilding and Design
A New Look
The church was rebuilt after the fire. Its design was inspired by the Exeter Cathedral in England. An architect named Viktor Klutho designed it. In 1956, the brick walls were covered. They used a special type of limestone called dolomitic limestone. This stone came from Winona, Minnesota. They also used Indiana limestone for accents.
Changes Over Time
In 1968, the inside of the church was updated. This was done to follow new rules from the Second Vatican Council. The south end of the cathedral was also made bigger. This allowed 1,270 people to fit inside. In January 2012, a special church service was held. It marked 100 years since the big fire and the rebuilding. During this time, some parts of the church that were removed in 1968 were put back.
The Organ
The cathedral has a large organ. It was built in 1968 by the M. P. Moller Company. It has three keyboards and 40 sets of pipes. Later, another keyboard and four more sets of pipes were added.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Pedro (Belleville) para niños
