Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Burlington, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of theImmaculate Conception |
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The former cathedral in 2022
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| 44°28′47.05″N 73°12′53.56″W / 44.4797361°N 73.2148778°W | |
| Location | 20 Pine Street Burlington, Vermont |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Desacralized |
| Founded | 1830 |
| Dedication | Immaculate Conception |
| Dedicated | May 26, 1977 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Edward Larrabee Barnes Alistair Bevington (associate architect) |
| Style | Modern |
| Completed | 1977 |
| Closed | December 2018 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 450 |
| Materials | Brick, Standing Seam Copper |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Burlington |
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was once a very important church in Burlington, Vermont, United States. A cathedral is the main church for a diocese, which is like a church district led by a bishop. This building is located at 20 Pine Street. In 2018, it was announced that the building would no longer be used as a Catholic church. After being empty for a while, the church leaders decided to have it taken down.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The church community started in 1830 and was first called St. Mary's. The church building built in 1841 became the main church for the area when the diocese was created in 1852.
The First Cathedral (1867)
Work on the first Immaculate Conception Cathedral began in 1862. It took until 1867 to finish because of the American Civil War. This church was built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looked like old European churches with tall arches and detailed stonework.
The architect, Patrick Keely, designed it using local materials. These included redstone, marble, slate, and limestone. It was the first Catholic church in New England built specifically to be a cathedral.
Bishop Louis de Goesbriand officially opened the church on December 8, 1867. The tall tower was finished later in 1904. A large statue of Notre Dame de Lourdes, made of copper and covered in gold leaf, was placed on top of the tower. It stood about 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall.
Sadly, this beautiful church was destroyed by fire on March 13, 1972. The fire was set on purpose. Firefighters tried to stop the blaze, but the bell tower fell down shortly after midnight.
The New Cathedral (1977)
In 1974, a new architect named Edward Larrabee Barnes was chosen to design a new cathedral. It would be built on the same land. He was inspired by another building at the University of Vermont.
The new church has a modern style and a unique five-sided shape. It has low brick walls with green and dark brown colors. A tall copper roof covers the building. A large cross sits on top of the roof. The church was designed to hold 450 people.
A separate rectangular building is connected to the front of the church. This part has a gathering space. Inside the church, there is a large stained glass window called the "Great Cross." Other windows and the interior designs were created by different artists.
A famous landscape architect named Dan Kiley designed the park-like area around the church. He worked with the architect to plan the whole project. Kiley placed 123 locust trees around the building. These trees help shield the church from the busy city streets.
A tall steel bell tower stands freely near the corner of Cherry and St. Paul Streets. This is where the old cathedral used to be. A heavy bell, weighing about 4,500 pounds (2,041 kg), was saved from the fire of the old cathedral. This bell had been added to the church in 1900.
The entire new building and its landscaping were finished in March 1977. Bishop John Aloysius Marshall officially opened it on May 26, 1977.
The church also had a large pipe organ built in 1980. It had 1,000 pipes and was first played during a concert on August 27, 1980.
Church Closure
Over time, the neighborhoods around the church changed. This meant fewer people lived nearby to attend services. In 1999, another church in Burlington, Saint Joseph Church, also became a main church for the diocese.
Because fewer people were attending and the church had financial challenges, leaders began discussing combining the two churches in 2017. The number of church members at Immaculate Conception had dropped to less than 100.
In April 2018, Immaculate Conception lost its status as a cathedral. Later that year, the bishop decided the building would no longer be used as a Catholic church. On October 11, 2018, the diocese announced they would sell the property. The last church service was held on December 8, 2018.
In December 2021, the diocese asked for permission to take down the church building. This permission was given in early 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción (Burlington) para niños
