Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (Sacramento, California) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament from the intersection of K and 11th Streets in Downtown Sacramento
Location in California Show map of California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
38°34′44″N 121°29′31″W / 38.579°N 121.492°W / 38.579; -121.492
Location	1017 11th St. Sacramento, California
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Founded	1886
Architecture
Architect(s)	Bryan J. Klinch
Style	Italian Renaissance
Completed	June 12, 1889
Construction cost	$250,000 (1889 estimate)
Specifications
Capacity	1,400 seats
Length	200 feet (61 m)
Width	100 feet (30 m)
Number of domes	One
Dome height (outer)	175 feet (53 m)
Number of spires	Three
Spire height	Tallest: 215 feet (66 m)
Materials	brick, mortar, wood, reinforced concrete, steel frame
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Sacramento

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is a very important Catholic church in Sacramento, which is the capital city of California. It's like the main church for the Catholic community in this area. The church is where Bishop Jaime Soto has his special chair, showing he is the leader. You can find it right in downtown Sacramento at 11th and K Streets.

This cathedral is seen as a major landmark for both religious and city life. The area it serves, called a diocese, is huge! It stretches from the southern part of Sacramento County all the way north to the Oregon border. About 1,000,000 Catholics live in this area, which includes 102 churches across 42,000 square miles. The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the biggest cathedrals west of the Mississippi River. Because it's so large, it has sometimes been used for important funeral services for former governors of California, like Pat Brown in 1996.

Building a Landmark: The Cathedral's History
- A Dream from the Gold Rush Era
- Inspired by Paris Architecture
Modern Updates: The Cathedral's Renovation
Images for kids
See also

Building a Landmark: The Cathedral's History

The construction of Sacramento's Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament began in 1887. It stands as a great example of the strong history found in Sacramento's architecture. Many buildings here date back to the mid-1800s. Sacramento has the largest number of buildings from the California Gold Rush era in the United States.

The cathedral shows how Sacramento's past connects with its present. A recent project brought together the Catholic faith, the story of gold miners, and the lively downtown area. It also honored the feelings of people who have shared many important life moments inside the church.

A Dream from the Gold Rush Era

Among the first people to look for gold in the Sacramento area during the California Gold Rush was Patrick Manogue. But his dreams were different from many others. He wanted to earn enough money to travel to Paris. There, he planned to study at a seminary college and become a Roman Catholic priest.

While studying in Paris in 1860, Manogue was amazed by the beautiful cathedrals. He saw how important they were to a city's community. In 1886, Manogue was chosen to be Sacramento's first bishop. He was inspired by the churches he had seen in European city squares. Bishop Manogue worked hard to get land just one block from the State Capitol. He dreamed of building a grand cathedral in Sacramento.

Inspired by Paris Architecture

Bishop Manogue designed the Sacramento cathedral to look like L'Eglise de la Sainte-Trinite (The Church of the Holy Trinity) in Paris. Once it was finished, no other cathedral west of the Mississippi River was as large. The building is shaped like a modified basilica. It is about 200 feet (61 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide. It can seat 1400 people. The main bell tower reaches 215 feet (66 m) into the sky.

Modern Updates: The Cathedral's Renovation

The outside of the church is built in the Italian Renaissance style. The inside used to be in the Victorian style. Over the years, with many repairs and changes, the church lost its original look.

From August 2003 to November 2005, the cathedral closed for a big renovation. The goal was to make the church's design feel unified again. Important new parts were added, like a special chapel for the Blessed Sacrament (called a Eucharistic chapel). Two smaller chapels were also added, along with a large crucifix under the main dome.

Reopening the Dome and New Features

One of the biggest changes was reopening the dome. It had been closed off in the 1930s to help with sound. The Eucharistic chapel was designed to look like the old chancel screens found in medieval churches. This design allows the tabernacle, which holds the Blessed Sacrament, to be seen by everyone. It is also in line with the high altar. This chapel also provides a quiet space for prayer outside of Mass. The words of a hymn, Pange Lingua Gloriosi, are written in gold letters on the screen.

Every part of the cathedral was updated during the renovation. This included larger pews and better lighting. The interior walls and ceiling were decorated with new paintings. The huge stained glass windows were cleaned and repaired. The church also received a new bishop's chair, called a cathedra, and a special stand for reading, called an ambo. Both are made of mahogany wood.

Above the altar hangs a 13-foot (4.0 m) crucifix. A crown that is 14 feet (4.3 m) wide hangs above it. Together, they weigh almost 2,000 lb (910 kg). They are held up by strong aircraft cables.

The Dome's Return and Artistic Details

The inside of the cathedral's dome, which is 110 feet (34 m) high, was rebuilt. This happened about 70 years after the original dome was hidden from view. A dove with a 7 ft (2.1 m) wingspan is in the center of the dome, called the oculus. Father James Murphy, who was the rector of the cathedral during its renovation, said it is "a dramatic reminder of the Holy Spirit’s presence." Sixteen large round pictures, called rondels, each 5 ft (1.5 m) wide, decorate the new dome. They show scenes from the Bible related to the Eucharist.

At the entrance to the cathedral, there is an eight-sided marble baptismal font. It has a beautiful mosaic design. Two side chapels offer quiet places for prayer. These are the Martyrs Chapel and the Chapel of Our Lady and Saints of the Americas. Two 20-foot (6.1 m) high murals decorate these chapels. They were painted by artists from EverGreene Painting Studios in New York.

Strengthening the Structure

The large columns that support the cathedral were made hollow. Workers then put 320 LT (330,000 kg) of steel inside them. This was done to make the masonry (brickwork) of the cathedral walls stronger. A powerful epoxy was used with the steel to bond everything together. This helps the building withstand an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale.

The cathedral's original organ was taken out in 1970. In 1977, a smaller organ was put in, but it wasn't powerful enough. The Reuter Organ Company built and installed a new organ with 15 sets of pipes. It even uses some pipes from the earlier instrument.

This renovation was the biggest financial project the diocese had ever done. It cost $34 million. The money came from different places. A fundraising effort by the diocese in 2002 provided $10 million. Another $10 million came from the diocese's investments. People who attended the cathedral also raised $2 million. In January 2005, officials were still working to raise the remaining $12 million.