Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Camden, New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of the Immaculate Conception
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Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, New Jersey, September 2015
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 Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 642 Market Street, Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architect | Jeremiah O'Rourke |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001277 |
| Added to NRHP | December 10, 2003 |
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a large Catholic church in Camden, New Jersey. It's the main church for the Diocese of Camden, which means it's where the Bishop of Camden has his special chair. The church was built in 1864. In 1937, it officially became a cathedral. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 because it's an important historical building.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Catholic Community
The first Catholic priests came to the Camden area in the 1740s. They were Jesuit priests from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At that time, practicing Catholicism was not allowed in New Jersey. So, Masses and other services were held secretly in people's homes.
Later, in 1796, Augustinian priests from Philadelphia started helping Catholics in the region. Priests from St. Mary's Cathedral in Philadelphia also served Camden until 1853. Camden then became a mission of a Catholic parish in Gloucester. Mass was held a few times a month in homes or public halls. In 1852, a hall used for Mass was burned down.
Building the First Church
The first priest assigned to Camden was Father James Moran in 1855. He started the Church of the Immaculate Conception. They continued to use Starr's Hall for services. In 1857, land was bought for a new church building. Construction began on June 9, 1859. The first Mass was held there on October 9, 1859. A house for the priest, called a rectory, was added in 1861.
School and Growth
A private Catholic school started in 1859 in Sarah Fields' home. It moved to the new church building and became a parish school. At first, regular teachers taught the students. A new school building and a convent (where nuns live) were finished in 1874. That year, the Sisters of St. Joseph began teaching at the school. Later, the Sisters of Mercy took over teaching in 1885. The school is now closed.
As more Irish immigrants came to Camden, the first church became too small. In 1864, land was bought for the current, larger church. Jeremiah O'Rourke was chosen as the architect. The first stone of the new church was laid on October 23, 1864. The church was built of stone and was very large.
Even though it wasn't finished, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church in July 1866. The old church building was sold in 1868. The new church was finally completed in 1888 when its tall tower and spire were finished. The inside was also updated in 1890 with new marble altars. The church was officially blessed on May 27, 1893.
Becoming a Cathedral
The number of Catholics in South Jersey kept growing. Because of this, Pope Pius XI created the Diocese of Camden on December 9, 1937. The Church of the Immaculate Conception became the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese. The first bishop of the diocese started his work on May 4, 1938.
As the Catholic population continued to grow, the cathedral's size became a challenge. So, in the 1950s, St. Joseph's Church was also named a "pro-cathedral." This meant it could also serve some of the functions of a main cathedral.
In recent years, the population in Camden has changed. On April 4, 2008, Bishop Joseph Galante announced that the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception would join with two other parishes in Camden. The cathedral became the main place of worship for this combined community.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción (Camden) para niños
