Christ Church Cathedral (Springfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church Cathedral |
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 Location in Massachusetts
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| 42°06′12.13″N 72°35′8.95″W / 42.1033694°N 72.5858194°W | |
| Location | 35 Chestnut St. Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| History | |
| Founded | May 13, 1817 |
| Consecrated | May 25, 1894 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Lord, Fuller, and Wadlan |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1874 |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brownstone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Western Massachusetts |
Christ Church Cathedral is a special church called a cathedral. It is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the United States. This church is the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Think of it as the "headquarters" for this group of churches. In 1974, the cathedral became part of a historic area. This means it is an important building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church started on May 13, 1817. It began in the chapel of the Springfield Armory. Colonel Roswell Lee, who was the armory's superintendent, helped guide the church.
A fire at the armory on March 2, 1824, forced the church to move. The armory needed the space for other things. So, church services were held in different places around Springfield. These places included the Methodist church and the old court house.
Reorganization and New Buildings
The Rev'd Henry Washington Lee, Colonel Lee's son, took charge of the church on October 28, 1838. The church was then reorganized. Henry Lee later became the first Episcopal Bishop of Iowa in 1854.
In 1839, the church bought land at State and Dwight Streets. A new church building was built there. Famous people helped pay for this new church. One was Anna McNeill Whistler, mother of the painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Her family rented a pew, which is a church bench.
The new church was a rectangular building with a square tower. In 1851, the church was made bigger. This happened after the rector, Abram Newkirk Littlejohn, saw that more space was needed. The project added more seats, a chancel (the area around the altar), a vestry room, and a library.
During this time, the Ladies' Society bought a large organ for $687.50. This organ came from St. John's Church in Providence, Rhode Island. Rev'd Littlejohn later became the first Bishop of Long Island.
Building the Current Cathedral
The church continued to grow. By the 1870s, a much larger church was needed. So, the current church was built at a new location on Chestnut Street. The land was bought in 1874.
Construction began that same year. The first service in the new building was held on May 21, 1876. A new Processional Cross and Office Lights were designed by the famous architect Henry Vaughan. He also designed the Washington National Cathedral. These items are still used today.
The tower of the new church cracked soon after it was built. It had to be removed. The tower was rebuilt in 1927.
Becoming a Cathedral
The first meeting of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts happened at Christ Church. This meeting was on November 19, 1901. On February 7, 1929, Christ Church officially became the diocesan Cathedral.
The Very Rev'd Dr. John M. McGann was the rector at that time. He became the first cathedral dean.
The Very Rev'd Jose Reyés grew up in Springfield. He was installed as the cathedral's eighth dean on May 3, 2025. He took over from Interim Dean Bernie Poppe.
See also
