Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Milwaukee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John's Roman Catholic Cathedral
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Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
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| Location | 812 N. Jackson St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Nearest city | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architect | Victor Schulte |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000108 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 1974 |
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is a very important church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the main church for the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. This beautiful building was built in 1847. Its style is called German Renaissance Revival, and it has been changed a few times after fires. The Cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historical building. It is also a recognized landmark in Milwaukee. You can find it just east of Cathedral Square Park.
Contents
What is the History of St. John's Cathedral?
How the Church Started
St. John's parish was the first Roman Catholic group in Milwaukee. It was started way back in 1837. In its early years, the people met and prayed at a nearby church called St. Peter's.
Building the Cathedral
Archbishop John Henni bought the land for the Cathedral in 1844. They started building on December 5, 1847. People raised almost $30,000 to help build it. The church was finished in 1852. It was named after John the Evangelist.
The building was designed by an architect named Victor Schulte. He used a style from the 1800s called Zopfstil, which means "pigtail" style. The church was built with Cream City brick. This is a special light-colored brick found only in the Milwaukee area. Victor Schulte also designed two other churches in Milwaukee using the same style. These were St. Mary's and Holy Trinity.
The Cathedral's Tower Changes
The bottom part of the church's tall tower, up to where the clocks are, is part of Schulte's first design from the 1840s. It looks simpler than the parts built later. Its flat pillars, called pilasters, match the lower main part of the church. This simple look was part of the original Zopfstil style. This style was a reaction against the fancier Baroque style that was popular in Europe then. At first, a steeple rose from this first part of the tower.
After 40 years, the original steeple was not safe anymore. So, in 1893, the part of the tower above the clock was replaced. The new tower was taller. It was designed by famous Milwaukee architects George Ferry & Alfred Clas. This new two-part tower has a fancier style. It makes the whole building look less like it's from the Civil War time.
The 1935 Fire and Rebuilding
In January 1935, a fire badly damaged the church and most of what was inside. A historian named Richard Perrin said: "The main worship areas were destroyed. Beautiful stained glass windows, wall paintings, and a valuable pipe organ were all ruined. The roof fell in, and even the outside walls were badly hurt from the intense heat. Only the tower was left standing."
Fire Chief Peter Steinkellner was in charge of fighting the fire. When he saw that the main church could not be saved, he focused on saving the tower. He succeeded in saving it. The rebuilding of the church was finished in time for a special mass on Christmas Eve in 1942.
What are the Features of St. John's Cathedral?
Inside the Cathedral
St. John's Cathedral has thirteen large stained glass windows. These windows were cut by hand by the T.C. Esser Company of Milwaukee. They were designed by Erhardt Stoettner.
In the middle of the main worship area, there is a large, tomb-shaped baptismal pool. It also has a marble font, which is a basin for holy water.
Recent Additions
In 2001, a special gated garden and a glass-covered area called an atrium were added. These are located at the north end of the building.
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist celebrated its 150th birthday in 1997.
See also
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
In Spanish: Catedral de San Juan Evangelista (Milwaukee) para niños
