Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Proto-Cathedral ofSt. James the Greater |
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St. James in 2014
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 Location in Vancouver Washington
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| 45°37′51″N 122°40′23″W / 45.6307°N 122.6731°W | |
| Location | 218 W 12th St. Vancouver, Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Proto-cathedral |
| Founded | November 24, 1838 |
| Founder(s) | François Norbert Blanchet and Modeste Demers |
| Dedication | May 31, 1846 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Donald MacKay |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1885 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Seattle |
The Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater is a historic Catholic church in Vancouver, Washington, United States. It is part of the Archdiocese of Seattle. This church has a long history, going back to the 1830s when Catholic priests first arrived in the Oregon Country.
The first church building was finished in 1846. Later, in 1850, it became a cathedral when the Diocese of Nesqually was created. The church building you see today was completed in 1885. It stopped being a cathedral in 1907 when a new cathedral opened in Seattle. In 2013, it was officially named a "proto-cathedral," which means it's a former cathedral.
Contents
History of St. James Church
Early Beginnings in the Oregon Country
In the 1830s, French-Canadian Catholic workers asked their bishop in Quebec to send priests to the Oregon Country. Two priests, François Norbert Blanchet and Modeste Demers, arrived at Fort Vancouver in 1838.
They held church services in different buildings inside the fort. Catholics often had to share space with Protestants, which wasn't ideal for either group.
Building the First Church
In 1845, Father Blanchet received permission to build a new church just outside the fort. This wooden building was named St. James Church. It was officially opened on May 30, 1846.
Becoming a Cathedral
In July 1846, the Vatican created three Catholic areas called dioceses in the Oregon Country. One of these was Walla Walla. Augustin-Magloire Blanchet, François Blanchet's younger brother, became the bishop of Walla Walla.
The Walla Walla diocese was later closed. However, on May 31, 1850, Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Nesqually. Bishop Augustin Blanchet chose Vancouver as its main city. He made the existing St. James Church his cathedral. It was formally dedicated as St. James Cathedral on January 23, 1851.
A New Cathedral Building
Bishop Blanchet retired in 1879. His replacement, Bishop Egidius Junger, decided to build a new, larger cathedral in Vancouver. In 1883, they chose Donald MacKay, an architect from Seattle.
Construction on the new cathedral began in 1884. The new building, which was about 145 meters (476 feet) long, was dedicated as St. James Cathedral the next year, in 1885. The original wooden church, built in 1846, unfortunately burned down in 1889.
Moving the Cathedral to Seattle
Bishop Junger's successor, Edward John O'Dea, realized that Vancouver was no longer the biggest city in the area. In 1903, Bishop O'Dea moved the main office of the Diocese of Nisqually to Seattle. He immediately started plans for a new cathedral there.
The diocese was officially renamed the Diocese of Seattle in September 1907. The new St. James Cathedral in Seattle was dedicated in December of that year. The St. James Cathedral in Vancouver then became a regular parish church again, just as it was before it became a cathedral. It has remained a parish church ever since.
Modern History of the Proto-Cathedral
Renovations and New Recognition
The church building was renovated in 2008. This project was started by Father Dominic Hahn and completed by Father W.R. Harris.
In 2013, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain announced that St. James Church would be officially called a "proto-cathedral." This was done to honor its important history as the first cathedral for the Archdiocese of Seattle. It was formally dedicated by Archbishop Sartain on October 25, 2013. At that time, its name changed to the Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater.
Masses and Traditions
Since 2014, some masses at the Proto-Cathedral have been celebrated ad orientem. This means the priest and the people face the same direction, towards the "liturgical east," during parts of the service. This was a common practice before the Vatican II changes. By 2016, all masses at St. James were celebrated this way. This change was encouraged by Cardinal Robert Sarah. However, this practice seems to have stopped as of 2024.
The masses at the Proto-Cathedral often mix Latin and English. They also feature traditional church music like Gregorian chant, English chant, and polyphony.
See also
In Spanish: Protocatedral de Santiago el Mayor (Vancouver) para niños
