Cathedral of the Madeleine Facts for Kids

The Cathedral of the Madeleine is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was finished in 1909 and serves as the main church, or cathedral, for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. It is special because it is the only cathedral in the U.S. named after St. Mary Magdalene.

Quick facts for kids
Cathedral of the Madeleine
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Cathedral of the Madeleine in May 2019
Location in Utah Show map of Utah Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	331 East South Temple Street Salt Lake City, Utah United States
Area	1.2 acres (0.49 ha)
Built	1900-09
Architect	Carl M. Neuhausen and Bernard O. Mecklenburg
Architectural style	Neo-Romanesque (outside) and Neo-Gothic (inside)
NRHP reference No.	71000845
Added to NRHP	March 11, 1971

History of the Cathedral
The Madeleine Choir School
The Grand Organ
Gallery
Beautiful Art Inside
See also

History of the Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Madeleine has a rich history, starting over a hundred years ago.

Building the Cathedral

Construction of the cathedral began in 1900. It was built from sandstone and shaped like a cross. Lawrence Scanlan, the first bishop of Salt Lake City, led the project. He chose to dedicate the church to St. Mary Magdalene. The architects, Carl M. Neuhausen and Bernard O. Mecklenburg, designed the outside to look like Neo-Romanesque buildings. This style often features round arches and thick walls. The inside, however, has more Neo-Gothic details, which include pointed arches and tall, soaring spaces. The church was completed in 1909. James Cardinal Gibbons officially dedicated it.

It is thought that Bishop Scanlan picked Mary Magdalene as the church's patron saint for a special reason. Her feast day is July 22. This is just two days before Pioneer Day, a big celebration in Utah. By choosing this date, Catholics would have something to celebrate around the same time as the region's main faith.

Inside the Cathedral

The beautiful interior of the cathedral was created under the guidance of Joseph S. Glass. He was the second bishop of Salt Lake. Bishop Glass hired John Theodore Comes, a famous architect, to decorate the inside. His plans were inspired by the Spanish Gothic style. Colorful murals by Felix Liefuchter and bright paint were added. Ornate shrines by Johannes Kirchmayer were also installed. In 1916, Bishop Glass changed the cathedral's name to the French spelling after visiting what was believed to be Mary Magdalene's tomb.

Restorations and Changes

In the 1970s, the outside of the building was repaired and cleaned. Later, between 1991 and 1993, the inside of the cathedral was fully renovated. This work was overseen by Bishop William K. Weigand. The restoration involved cleaning away dust and dirt. It also included updating parts of the church to match new practices. These changes came after the Second Vatican Council.

During this time, a new altar was built. The cathedra, which is the bishop's special chair, was moved. A separate chapel was made for the Blessed Sacrament. A large baptismal font was also added. Monsignor M. Francis Mannion had the vision for this major interior restoration. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel also holds the tomb of Bishop Scanlan.

A small container with a relic of Saint Mary Magdalene used to rest on top of Bishop Scanlan's tomb. The Cathedral in Salt Lake City was one of only two cathedrals in the world that had a first-class relic of the saint and were named in her honor. The other is the Basilica of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in France. On July 10, 2024, the relic was taken from the cathedral.

The Madeleine Choir School

The cathedral is home to a special school called The Madeleine Choir School. It is the only co-educational Catholic Choir School in the United States. "Co-educational" means both boys and girls attend. The school started in 1996. Today, it teaches over 400 students from Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. The Cathedral Choir has recorded several music CDs. They also travel often, performing both in the U.S. and in other countries. Besides singing daily services at the Cathedral, the choir members have performed in famous places. These include St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and Notre Dame de Paris in France. They have also sung in churches across the United States, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Germany.

Composer Amédée Tremblay was the church's organist from 1920 to 1925.

The Grand Organ

The cathedral has a large and impressive organ. It was built in 1992 by Kenneth Jones & Associates. This organ has 60 stops, 82 ranks, and 4,242 pipes. It creates a powerful and beautiful sound for services and concerts.