Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption (Trenton, New Jersey) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption
St. Mary's rectory (left) and cathedral
Location in Mercer County, New Jersey
40°13′22″N 74°45′58″W / 40.2227°N 74.7660°W / 40.2227; -74.7660
Location	151 N. Warren St. Trenton, New Jersey
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Founded	1865
Dedicated	March 14, 1959
Architecture
Architectural type	Modern Romanesque
Completed	1959
Specifications
Number of spires	One
Spire height	98 feet (30 m)
Materials	Mount Airy granite
Administration
Diocese	Trenton

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, often called St. Mary’s Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in Trenton, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the main churches for the Diocese of Trenton. The other main church is the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold.

History of St. Mary's Cathedral
- Becoming a Cathedral
- Fire and Rebuilding
Architecture and Design
Images for kids
See also

History of St. Mary's Cathedral

Historical marker on the rectory.

The land where St. Mary’s Cathedral stands today was bought in 1865 by Rev. Anthony Smith. This spot was once part of the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War. A special marker on the church's rectory (the priest's house) shows where the Hessian Commander Col. Johann Gottlieb Rall died on December 27, 1776.

St. Mary's was the second Catholic church built in Trenton. The first was St. John's. Work on the church began on April 23, 1866. Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley of Newark officially dedicated it on January 1, 1871.

The church's tall spire was finished in 1879 by Joseph Trier. People said it was the tallest church spire in New Jersey at that time. The clock in the tower was made by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. It was even the official clock at the Paris Exposition of 1878, a big world's fair.

Becoming a Cathedral

The Diocese of Trenton was created by Pope Leo XIII on August 2, 1881. St. Mary’s Church was chosen to be the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese. Bishop Michael J. O'Farrell became the first bishop. He was officially welcomed at St. Mary's on November 17, 1881.

Around 1900, a gymnasium and a convent (a home for nuns) were built. A large new organ was installed in 1948.

Fire and Rebuilding

In 1956, the church's spire was in danger of falling down, so it was removed. A few months later, on March 14, 1956, the cathedral and the rectory were destroyed by a fire. Sadly, the fire caused the deaths of Msgr. Richard T. Crean, the cathedral's leader, and housekeepers Mary Brennan and Mary Donnellan.

A new cathedral was built and officially opened three years later, on March 14, 1959. Bishop George W. Ahr dedicated it during a special Mass. The new rectory was also finished at the same time.

Architecture and Design

Bronze doors from the original cathedral.

The outside of the current St. Mary's Cathedral is made of Mount Airy granite. Its design is a modern take on the Romanesque style, which is known for its round arches and strong, thick walls.

The tower on the corner of the cathedral stands about 98 feet (30 m) tall. The old cathedral had ten bells of different sizes and sounds. Even though they were damaged by the fire, they were fixed and put into the new cathedral's tower. Today, these bells are played electronically from a keyboard near the organ.

The clock from the old cathedral was also saved and restored. Its original parts used weights and pulleys, but now it works using electricity. Other parts from the first cathedral were also used in the new building. These include the beautiful bronze doors, the altar rails, and some pieces of the original stained glass windows.

The front of the cathedral features statues of the Twelve Apostles, who were Jesus's main followers.