Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Bismarck, North Dakota) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

Location in North Dakota Show map of North Dakota Location in the United States Show map of the United States
46°48′38″N 100°47′47″W / 46.8105°N 100.7965°W / 46.8105; -100.7965
Location	519 Raymond Street Bismarck, North Dakota
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Status	Cathedral/Parish church
Founded	1945
Dedication	August 30, 1945
Architecture
Architect(s)	William F. Kurke
Style	Art Deco
Groundbreaking	September, 1941
Completed	1945
Specifications
Number of spires	One
Materials	Concrete
Administration
Diocese	Bismarck

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is a cathedral and parish church of the Catholic Church located in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Bismarck. Since 1980 the cathedral and the nearby Bishop's Residence have been contributing properties in the Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

History
Attendant buildings
Images for kids
See also

History

The cathedral was the dream of the first bishop of Bismarck, Vincent Wehrle, O.S.B., who had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and wanted the church to also serve as a shrine to the Holy Spirit. He brought the property in 1917 and hired Milwaukee architect Anton Dohman in 1921 to design the cathedral. He provided two different designs, the first was similar to the church at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, North Dakota. The Great Depression prevented the construction of the cathedral until 1941.

Bismarck's second bishop, Vincent Ryan, hired Fargo architect William F. Kurke, who had helped design the North Dakota Capitol building, to design the new cathedral. His design was similar to Dohman's second design. The groundbreaking for the Art Deco style building was begun in September 1941. The building is composed of monolithic concrete, and is believed to be the only Art Deco-style cathedral in the United States. The church opened in August 1945, but its interior decoration and some of its furnishings were added in later years. A renovation from 1992 to 1993 added a gathering space, which reflects the cathedral's Art Deco style. The cathedral's tall bell tower is a local landmark that is visible from a distance.

Attendant buildings

In addition to the cathedral, Kurke also designed the nearby Bishop's Residence. The two-story, concrete, Art Deco structure was built at the same time as the cathedral. The grade school was completed in 1951. The two-story building features a flat roof, precast concrete panels, and two horizontal window bands that run about two-thirds of the width of the facade. A school building between the cathedral and the residence was originally part of Kurke's plan, but the long and low building features a more contemporary style that differs from the original plans. The two-story brick convent was completed in 1965, and the two-story rectory in 1969. The rectory's exterior is composed of brick on the first floor and vertical siding on the second floor. The convent now houses the Center for Pastoral Ministry of the Diocese of Bismarck.