Cathedral of the Epiphany (Sioux City, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Epiphany |
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| 42°30′03″N 96°24′25″W / 42.5009°N 96.4070°W | |
| Location | 1000 Douglas St. Sioux City, Iowa |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Dedication | Epiphany |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles P. Brown |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1904 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | Two |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Sioux City |
The Cathedral of the Epiphany is a beautiful and important church in Sioux City, Iowa, United States. It is a cathedral, which means it's the main church for the Diocese of Sioux City. The bishop, who leads the diocese, has his special seat here. It also serves as a regular parish church for the local community.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Beginnings of the Church
The first Catholic Mass in Sioux City was held in 1855. It took place in a simple log cabin. The Cathedral of the Epiphany started as St. Mary's Church in 1891.
Father Timothy Treacy was the first leader of this church. It was built to serve many Irish and German Catholic immigrants. These new families were moving into the central part of the city.
Building Delays and New Plans
Building a new church was planned, but it faced delays. An economic downturn in 1893 made it hard to get money. For ten years, people worshipped in the church's basement.
In 1902, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Sioux City. Bishop Philip Joseph Garrigan decided St. Mary's Church would become the cathedral. He started work to finish the upper part of the church. He also asked for permission to change the church's name.
Dedication and Later Additions
On September 8, 1904, Bishop Garrigan dedicated the building. It was named the Cathedral of the Epiphany. At this time, the church did not yet have its tall spires.
Minor updates were made in 1939. Then, in 1952, the two signature spires were finally added to the towers. A big project in 1961 changed the inside of the cathedral. A new marble altar and other new items were added.
Community Changes and Renovations
In the 1980s, fewer people were attending the church. There was talk of closing the parish. But then, many Catholic immigrants from Latin America and Southeast Asia moved to the area. This brought new life to the church.
Today, the church welcomes everyone. Masses are held in English, Spanish, and Latin. This shows the diverse community it serves.
The most recent major renovation happened in 1994. This project fixed the roof, gutters, and outside walls. It also brought back many beautiful decorations inside. These decorations had been removed in 1961. A generous gift of $1 million helped start the fundraising. The total project cost $3 million. The cathedral was rededicated on November 10, 1998.
Architecture and Design
Gothic Style and Unique Features
The Cathedral of the Epiphany is a great example of 19th-century German Gothic design. This style is known for its tall arches and detailed stonework.
The baptismal font, where baptisms take place, was designed by a local architect. His name was William L. Steele.
Stained Glass and Artworks
The cathedral has sixty-one beautiful stained glass windows. They were made by Franz Mayer & Co. in Munich, Germany. These windows were carefully restored in the late 1980s.
Some other important pieces came from a closed church in Emmetsburg, Iowa. These include the reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) in the apse (the curved part of the church). The side altars and Stations of the Cross also came from there. These items matched the cathedral's original style. Religious statues inside the church were hand-carved and hand-painted in Italy.
The Pipe Organ
About the Organ
The cathedral has a large pipe organ built in 2006 by Orgelbau Wech. It is located in the back of the cathedral, on a balcony.
This organ has a traditional console, which is like its control panel. It has two keyboards (called manuals) and many different sounds (called stops). The organ uses a mechanical system to make its sounds.
Organ Features
The organ has 31 stops, 29 registers, and 37 ranks. It has 58 notes on each manual and 30 notes on the pedalboard. It uses slider chests and a balanced mechanical key action. The stop controls are arranged in rows. It also has special pedals and buttons to change sounds quickly.
Parochial School History
Building New Schools
In the 1940s, people in the parish wanted a new school. The last class graduated from Cathedral High School in 1949. That fall, Bishop Heelan Catholic High School opened. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary continued to teach there.
By 1957, both Epiphany and Heelan needed new school buildings. The diocese raised money and bought land for $40,500. A new grade school was built there. It opened in September 1959.
School Consolidation
The parish grade school closed in 1987. This happened when schools from Epiphany, St. Boniface, and St. Joseph joined together. They formed a new school called Holy Family School.
The old school building is now called Epiphany Center. It holds offices, a parish center, and classrooms for religious education.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de la Epifan%C3%ADa (Sioux City) para ni%C3%B1os
