Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral (Raleigh, North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral |
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 Location in North Carolina
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| 35°46′39″N 78°40′11″W / 35.7775°N 78.669861°W | |
| Location | 715 Nazareth St. Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedicated | July 26, 2017 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | O'Brien and Keane |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | January 3, 2015 |
| Completed | 2017 |
| Construction cost | $46 million |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 2,000 sitting |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Raleigh |
The Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral is a large Catholic church in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is the main church for the Diocese of Raleigh. This means it's where the bishop of the area has his special chair, called a cathedra.
This cathedral replaced an older church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, which was smaller. The new cathedral can hold over 2,000 people. It is used for important church events and gatherings for Catholics in eastern North Carolina. The old Sacred Heart Cathedral is still used as a church, but it is now called Sacred Heart Church.
The Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral was designed by O'Brien & Keane. It was built by Clancy & Theys Construction Company. It is one of the five largest cathedrals in the United States.
Contents
Cathedral History
The land where the cathedral stands has a long history. In 1899, Father Thomas F. Price and his sister, Sister Mary Agnes, started a Catholic orphanage there. This orphanage helped children learn and grow. Later, a high school called Cardinal Gibbons High School was built on part of this land.
In 2011, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge announced that a new, bigger cathedral was needed. The number of Catholics in the area had grown a lot. Fundraising for the new cathedral began in September 2011.
Construction started on January 3, 2015. The building cost $46 million to complete. The cathedral was officially opened and dedicated on July 26, 2017.
Cathedral Design
The Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral has a special shape called a cruciform layout. This means it looks like a cross from above. The main entrance faces west, which is a common tradition in Catholic churches.
The church is about 43,000 square feet inside. The main altar and special seating for the bishop are under a large dome. The main seating area for people is called the nave and transepts. There's also a special area for the choir and musicians.
Outside the main entrance, there is a public plaza. This area allows people to gather before and after services.
Exterior Features
Chapel
The chapel is a quiet place for prayer inside the cathedral. It has a special design to show its importance. The outside of the chapel is made of cast stone.
The chapel has seven beautiful stained-glass windows. These windows show the Evangelists (writers of the Gospels) and angels. Some of these windows came from an old church in Philadelphia.
Cornerstone
A cornerstone is a special stone placed at the start of a building's construction. In December 2015, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge presented the cornerstone for the cathedral to Pope Francis. The Pope blessed the stone, offering his prayers for the new church.
The cornerstone is made of Santafiora stone. It has a special symbol called a Christogram, which is an ancient sign for the name of Jesus. This symbol shows the cathedral's dedication. The year 2017 is also written on it in gold. The cornerstone was put in place just five days before the cathedral was dedicated.
Dome
The cathedral has a very noticeable dome. The word "dome" comes from the Latin word domus, meaning "home." The dome shows that the cathedral is a home for the Catholic community.
The dome is very tall, reaching 173 feet above the ground. It is covered in copper and weighs 162 tons. It was built on the ground and then lifted into place by a crane. A cross sits at the very top of the dome. The dome has 16 arched windows that let sunlight into the sanctuary below.
Building Materials
The outside of the cathedral is mostly made of wood-mold brick. This brick has a soft, rose color with different shades. This style matches the traditional buildings in the region. Special cast stone is used for important parts, like the main entrance and the chapel. The roofs are covered in copper.
The outer walls of the nave and transepts have many arched windows. These windows are arranged in pairs. Some of the stained-glass windows were saved from an old church in Philadelphia. These windows were designed by Paula Balano and show Bible scenes.
Other new windows were made for the cathedral. They have the same border design but use clear glass with a diamond pattern. This diamond pattern is seen throughout the cathedral. It also reminds people of the Diocese of Raleigh's coat of arms, which has seven diamonds.
Bell Tower
The bell tower is 154 feet tall. It holds a set of 50 bells called a carillon. The bells range in size from 18 pounds to almost a ton. Forty-nine of the bells were made by Verdin Bells & Clocks. One bell was saved from the original Holy Name of Jesus Chapel that used to be on the same property.
These bells were blessed in November 2016 and installed in April 2017. A cross with a decorative flag is at the top of the tower. Five of the bells have special messages from the past bishops of the Raleigh diocese.
Interior Features
Chapel of All Saints
The Chapel of All Saints is a quiet place for prayer and reflection. It is part of the main cathedral building. It can seat 40 people. The chapel has marble furnishings, like the main sanctuary. The tabernacle in the chapel is like a small, perfect version of the chapel itself.
The altar and tabernacle are made of white marble with yellow accents. The altar has the Alpha-Omega symbol, which represents Christ as the "beginning and the end."
Choir Loft and Mezzanine
The choir loft and mezzanine are about 3,500 square feet. This area can seat about 60 people, including 30 musicians. It has space for a piano and risers for the choir.
A very large pipe organ, called Opus 147, is located here. It was designed and built by CB Fisk. This organ has 61 stops and is designed for Catholic church music. It was installed in late 2018.
Endo-Narthex
The Endo-Narthex is a space between the main entrance area and the nave. This is where the confessionals are located. The design of the four wooden confessionals was inspired by traditional Italian churches.
Narthex
The narthex is the entrance area of the cathedral. It's designed to feel like an ancient courtyard. This large space allows people to gather and greet each other before Mass. The architect wanted it to reflect the values of the people of North Carolina.
The inside of the nave and transepts matches the design of the outside. The high ceiling of the barrel vault reaches almost 78 feet above the floor.
The nave and transepts can seat 2,000 people. Each transept holds 500 people, and the nave holds 1,000. The seating is close to the altar, making everyone feel connected to the service.
The interior has many beautiful artworks. The ends of the transepts have shrines to Mary and Saint Joseph. The side aisles have 24 statues of saints. One spot is saved for Reverend Thomas Price, who was the first Catholic priest born in North Carolina.
The baptismal font is at the western end of the nave. It is made of solid white marble and is 6 feet wide. The marble floor around it has an octagon pattern, with veins that look like water flowing from the font.
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is the most important area, located under the dome. It holds the altar, the bishop's chair (cathedra), and the ambo (where readings are given). All these furnishings are made of white marble with yellow accents.
The floor of the sanctuary uses gray marble with white diamond patterns. The main altar, ambo, and cathedra are surrounded by a border of white marble with yellow diamond accents.
The tabernacle, which holds the Blessed Sacrament, is designed like a tiny, perfect cathedral. It has a gold door and is made entirely of marble. It sits on a raised platform. Its design is inspired by a passage from the Bible's Book of Revelation, describing heaven.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Santo Nombre de Jesús (Raleigh) para niños
