Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Paterson, New Jersey) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
St. John's Cathedral

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Location in Passaic County, New Jersey
40°54′46″N 74°10′21″W / 40.91278°N 74.17250°W / 40.91278; -74.17250
Location	381 Grand Street Paterson, New Jersey
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Former name(s)	St. John's Church
Status	Cathedral
Dedicated	July 31, 1870 (1870-07-31)
Consecrated	June 29, 1890 (1890-06-29)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	P. C. Keely of New York
Architectural type	Cathedral
Style	Neo-gothic
Groundbreaking	September 10, 1865 (1865-09-10)
Construction cost	$200,000
Specifications
Capacity	1,700-1,800
Length	180 feet (55 m)
Width	88 feet (27 m)
Number of spires	1
Spire height	225 feet (69 m)
Materials	Brownstone, most of which was obtained from local quarries in Little Falls
Administration
Diocese	Paterson

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a beautiful and historic Catholic cathedral. It is located in Paterson, New Jersey, in the United States. This cathedral is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

History of the Cathedral
See also

History of the Cathedral

Early Beginnings in Paterson

In the 1820s, more and more Catholic people were moving to Paterson. The city's factories were growing, and they needed many skilled workers. By 1870, many people from Ireland had moved to Paterson. These Irish immigrants, along with other new arrivals, often lived in simple homes near the big mills. Many Irish families settled around Grand Street, and this area became known as the "Dublin" part of Paterson.

Father McNulty's Vision

It was in this area that Father William N. McNulty began his work. He arrived in Paterson to help the growing Catholic community. In 1865, Father McNulty bought sixteen plots of land at Grand and Main streets. He bought this land from a large company called the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures ("S.U.M."). This purchase was a big step towards building a larger church for the community.

Building the New Church

The people of the church were very excited about the new project. They quickly raised $10,000 to buy the land in just two months! They hired a famous architect from New York, P. C. Keely. He was asked to design a church that would be "unequaled in New Jersey." The first stone of the new church was laid on September 10, 1865.

Completion and Cathedral Status

The church was ready for use in the summer of 1870. Building it cost about $200,000. Years later, in 1937, the church became a cathedral. This happened when the Diocese of Paterson was created.