Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral (Fargo, North Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral |
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The new cathedral in 2023
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 Location in North Dakota
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| 46°49′34.17″N 96°49′7.29″W / 46.8261583°N 96.8186917°W | |
| Location | 3600 25th Street South Fargo, North Dakota |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles W. Moore Arthur Andersson |
| Style | Postmodern |
| Completed | 1992 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 350 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | North Dakota |
Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral is an important church in Fargo, North Dakota, United States. It is a special kind of church called a cathedral. This means it is the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota. Think of it as the "headquarters" church for that area.
Contents
A Church's Beginning
The first Episcopal church service in Fargo happened on August 29, 1872. It was led by Reverend Joseph A. Gilfilian from Brainerd, Minnesota. These early services took place in a dining tent used by the Northern Pacific Railway. Most of the people who attended worked for the railroad or were their family members.
From Tent to Hall
During the colder winter months, the church services moved indoors. They were held in a place called Pinkham's Hall. This hall was located at the corner of Front (now Main) and 3rd Streets. The small group of churchgoers was known as the Church of the Crossing.
Building the First Church
In the summer of 1874, work began on a permanent church building. It was built at 204 9th Street South. The land for the church was given by General George W. Cass. The building was finished the next year and was named Christ Church.
A few years later, a strong wind actually blew the church building off its foundation! It was rebuilt and became a full "parish," which is a local church community. At this time, the parish was renamed Gethsemane.
Becoming a Cathedral
On October 11, 1883, the Episcopal Church created the Missionary District of North Dakota. This was done by splitting a larger district into two. Fargo was chosen as the "See city," meaning it would be the main city for the new district's bishop and cathedral.
A New Building for a Growing Church
By the 1890s, Gethsemane had grown too big for its church building. Also, the church had been blown off its foundation again! A new church was planned in the Gothic Revival style. It was supposed to be built with red sandstone.
However, there was a national economic problem at the time. Because of this, the plans had to be changed. The new church was built with a wood frame on a sandstone foundation instead. It had fancy wooden decorations that would normally have been made of stone. This church was located at Second Avenue and Ninth Street South.
On September 2, 1900, Gethsemane became a cathedral. It was special because it was the only Episcopal cathedral in the United States made entirely of wood.
Fire and Rebuilding
In 1980, the wooden cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list recognizes important historical buildings. However, during renovations on September 12, 1989, the church caught fire. It was so badly damaged that it could not be saved.
A Temporary Home
After the fire, the church community moved to a temporary location. They used a storefront building that used to be a business college. Walls were removed to create a space where they could hold worship services.
The New Cathedral Today
A new cathedral was designed by architects Charles W. Moore and Arthur Andersson from Austin, Texas. They designed it in a Postmodern style, which some people call Prairie Gothic.
Construction on the new building began on May 18, 1991. The new Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral opened its doors the following year. The church finished paying off the construction costs in January 2003.
See also
