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Precious Blood Cathedral facts for kids

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Precious Blood Cathedral
Precious Blood Cathedral 15.JPG
Religion
Affiliation Roman Catholic Church
Province Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario
Rite Roman Rite
Leadership Rev. Hamish Currie
Rev. Ignatius Xavier
Location
Location 778 Queen Street East
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Canada
Architecture
Architectural style Gothic revival
Completed 1875
Materials sandstone
Website
www.preciousbloodssm.com

The Precious Blood Cathedral is a very important church in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. It is the main church, also called the mother church, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. This means it's where the bishop of the area has his special chair.

History of the Cathedral

Precious Blood Cathedral - Interior
Inside the Precious Blood Cathedral

The story of the Precious Blood Cathedral began a long time ago. The first Catholic missionaries arrived in the Sault Ste. Marie area around 1815. At that time, Sault Ste. Marie was a small trading post.

For many years, Catholics in the area went to church in the nearby city of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Then, in 1846, a wooden church was built for the Parish of the Sacred Heart. This was the first Catholic church in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Building the Current Church

As more and more Catholic families moved to the region, especially from French Canadian and Irish backgrounds, the community grew quickly. Because of this growth, a bigger church was needed. The beautiful building you see today opened in 1875.

In 1904, something special happened. The area became its own Catholic region, called a diocese. Because of this, the church was given the important title of a cathedral. This made it the main church for the entire diocese. In 1936, the church got its current name, Precious Blood Cathedral.

Recent Changes and Future Plans

The cathedral has been updated over the years to keep it in good condition. A big renovation happened in 1963, making sure the building stayed strong and beautiful.

In 2013, the church announced exciting plans for the future. They wanted to add a large new hall, about 5,500 square feet in size. This new space would be used for many different activities. It would also help the diocese run its social programs, which are activities that help people in the community.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Catedral de la Preciosa Sangre (Sault Sainte Marie) para niños

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