Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle (Jackson, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle |
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| 32°18′04″N 90°11′03″W / 32.30111°N 90.18417°W | |
| Location | 123 North West Street Jackson, Mississippi |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | August 23, 1846 |
| Dedicated | June 3, 1900 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1897 |
| Completed | 1900 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Spire height | 120 feet (37 m) |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Jackson |
The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter the Apostle is a very important church in Jackson, Mississippi. It's where the main leader, called the Bishop, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson works. The church is named after Saint Peter the Apostle, who was one of Jesus's closest friends.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Beginnings
The area known as the Diocese of Natchez was created on July 28, 1837. It covered the entire state of Mississippi. In 1841, Bishop John J. Chanche arrived and began building churches. The government of Mississippi gave land to several church groups in Jackson. Bishop Chanche dedicated a new Catholic church to Saint Peter the Apostle on August 23, 1846. This first church was located at Court and President Streets.
Building the Current Church
The first wooden church was unfortunately burned down during the American Civil War in 1862. This happened when General William Tecumseh Sherman led his troops through the area. After that, the church members met in different places around the city. A second church building also burned down later.
Work on the church building you see today started in 1897. It was officially opened on June 3, 1900. This church is made of brick and has a special cross-shaped design. It is built in a style similar to Gothic buildings. The front of the church has a tall, square tower with a spire that reaches about 119 feet (36 meters) high.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1948, the main office for the Diocese of Natchez moved to Jackson. Because of this, the area was renamed the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson. In February 1957, the church was given a higher title, becoming a "co-cathedral." This means it shared the role of a main church.
Later, in 1977, a part of the church's territory was separated to form the Roman Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. At that time, Saint Peter's was officially named the only cathedral for the Diocese of Jackson.
Important Renovations
In 1987, the church's old organ was replaced. A new, special organ was built by Rieger Orgelbau from Austria. This new organ was dedicated to the memory of Bishop Joseph Brunini, who was a leader there from 1968 to 1984.
The cathedral was also updated in the 1980s. In 1998, a new building was added next to the church. This building holds offices, a large hall for events, and classrooms. Its design matches the style of the main church.
In 2010, the church had a big renovation project. The tall steeple was rebuilt and covered with copper and slate, and a new cross was placed on top. The roof of the main building was fixed, and the brick walls were repaired. The beautiful stained glass windows were cleaned, sealed, and covered with protective glass. The electrical and sound systems were also improved. Earlier checks had shown problems like wood rot, leaks, and termite damage in the tower and steeple. These issues became even worse after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Today, the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle is the main church for the Bishop of Jackson, Mississippi. It holds church services every day and week in both English and Spanish.
Gallery
A gallery of photographs from the 2008 Midnight mass at The Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle
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Procession
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Book of the Gospels
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Eucharistic Prayer
See also
