Cathedral of the Holy Cross (Boston) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Western facade of the Cathedral, as seen from Washington Street
42°20′26″N 71°04′10″W / 42.340693°N 71.069344°W / 42.340693; -71.069344
Location	1400 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Country	United States of America
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Status	Cathedral (also parish church)
Dedicated	December 8, 1875
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Patrick Keely
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	April 29, 1866
Specifications
Capacity	1,700 people
Length	364 feet
Width	90 feet
Height	120 feet
Materials	Roxbury puddingstone and gray limestone
Administration
Archdiocese	Boston

Cathedral of the Holy Cross as it appeared around 1881

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is a very important church in Boston. It is the main church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. It is also the largest Roman Catholic church in all of New England.

When it was finished, the cathedral was one of the grandest buildings in Boston. It is located in the city's South End neighborhood. This area was first built for middle-class families. But over time, many new immigrants, especially from Ireland, moved there.

The cathedral works as both a main church (a cathedral) and a local church (a parish). Many people who speak English and Spanish attend services here. It also serves three special groups from across the Archdiocese. These include Catholics from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt, a German Catholic group, and a community that uses an older form of Catholic Mass.

History of the Cathedral
Building Design and Features
Important Events at the Cathedral
Cathedral High School
Photos
See also

History of the Cathedral

In 1860, Bishop John Fitzpatrick saw that the old Holy Cross Cathedral was too small. Boston's Catholic community was growing fast. Plans for a new, bigger cathedral began. However, the United States Civil War put these plans on hold.

Bishop Fitzpatrick passed away in 1866. Bishop John Williams then took over the project. Building started on April 29, 1866. The church was finished and officially opened on December 8, 1875. By then, Bishop Williams had become Boston's first archbishop.

The cathedral got its name from a special item called a holy cross relic. This relic is believed to be a tiny piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified on. It was shown in the cathedral until 2018, when it was stolen. Luckily, the relic was found and returned. Now, it is only displayed on special religious dates.

In 2018, the cathedral had its first big renovation. This project cost $26 million. Workers saved about 8,000 square feet of wood from the old building. The renovation was completed in 2019, just before Palm Sunday.

Building Design and Features

The cathedral was designed by Patrick Keely. He was a famous architect who designed many churches. He used the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like the grand churches built in Europe long ago.

Building started in 1867 and finished in 1875. At that time, some people in Boston were not friendly towards Catholics. The huge size of the cathedral was a statement. It showed that Catholics were a strong and lasting part of Boston. Bricks from the 1834 riots, where a convent was burned down, were even used in the arch over the front door.

The cathedral is built from a type of rock called Roxbury puddingstone. It has gray limestone details. The building reaches 120 feet high. Until 1957, it was the largest cathedral in New England. The building is 364 feet long and 90 feet wide. It can hold about 2,000 people for services. There is also a smaller chapel downstairs for smaller gatherings. A tall spire was planned for the front, but it was never built.

The cathedral has its original E. and G.G. Hook and Hastings pipe organ. This amazing instrument was put in place in 1875. The part of the organ where the musician sits was replaced in 1929. In 2003, a company built a new part that looks just like the original. They also updated the organ's wiring and made other repairs.

Important Events at the Cathedral

Many important events have happened at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

On January 19, 1964, Cardinal Richard Cushing led a special service for President John F. Kennedy. This service was broadcast across the country. The Boston Symphony Orchestra played music by Mozart.
On October 1, 1979, Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral. He held a 38-minute prayer service for 2,000 priests. This was during his first trip to the United States.
On April 18, 2013, a special prayer service was held here. It honored the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. President Barack Obama gave a speech at this event.

Cathedral High School

In 1927, Cardinal William O'Connell started Cathedral High School. It is right next to the church. The Sisters of St. Joseph were put in charge of running the school. The school is still at this location today.