Sacred Heart Cathedral (Davenport, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2022
|
|
| Location | 422 E. 10th St. Davenport, Iowa |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/parish |
| Founded | 1856 (parish) |
| Dedication | Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| Dedicated | November 15, 1891 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | James J. Egan (cathedral) |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | June 1889 |
| Completed | 1891 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 180 feet (55 m) |
| Width | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Nave width | 65 feet (20 m) |
| Height | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Number of spires | One |
| Spire height | 160 feet (49 m) |
| Materials | Bedford stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Davenport |
Sacred Heart Cathedral is a beautiful Catholic church in Davenport, Iowa, United States. It's a special kind of church called a cathedral, which means it's the main church for the Diocese of Davenport. This cathedral sits on a hill that looks over the Mississippi River.
The church building, along with the rectory (where priests live), is part of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Cathedral Complex. This complex is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The area around the cathedral, called Cork Hill, was settled by Irish immigrants a long time ago.
Contents
The First Church: St. Margaret's Cathedral
The story of this church began in 1856. The city of Davenport was growing, so the Dubuque Diocese decided to build a new church. A kind couple, Antoine and Marguerite LeClaire, gave the land and money for the church. Before this, people went to St. Anthony's Church downtown.
On June 29, 1856, the first stone of the church was laid. Antoine LeClaire helped build it. The church was named St. Margaret, after St. Margaret of Scotland and Marguerite LeClaire. It was built with red brick in the Romanesque Revival style. A house for the priest, called a rectory, was built next to it.
The first priest was Rev. Andrew Trevis. In 1857, Rev. Henry Cosgrove joined St. Margaret's and became the main priest in 1861. He stayed with the parish for the rest of his life.
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), many soldiers were stationed near the church. This likely affected the church and its activities. After the war, in 1866, the church building was made bigger.
In 1873, a fire damaged the altar, but a new one was soon installed. A painting of St. Margaret, which is now in the current cathedral, was added then. In 1878, some people tried to steal money from the church. They didn't get the money, but they were caught and sent to prison.
On May 8, 1881, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Davenport. St. Margaret's became the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese. Rev. John McMullen became the first bishop, and Father Cosgrove became the cathedral's rector.
Bishop McMullen died in 1883 and was buried under the altar of St. Margaret's. In 1884, Father Cosgrove was chosen to be the next Bishop of Davenport. He was the first of three priests from this church to become a bishop.
Sacred Heart Cathedral: A New Beginning
Building a Grand New Church
By 1889, the old church was getting too small. Bishop Cosgrove decided to build a new, larger church that would look more like a grand cathedral. The church was in a neighborhood called Cork Hill, where many Irish families lived.
James J. Egan, an architect from Chicago, was chosen to design the new cathedral. He also designed another important church in Des Moines. The design was inspired by Gothic churches in England.
The first stone for the new cathedral was laid on April 27, 1890. Workers installed gas pipes for lighting in February 1891. By June, the woodwork was finished. The large window frames were made across the river in Rock Island, Illinois. Many people and groups donated money for the beautiful windows. The new cathedral was finished in 1891 and officially opened on November 15.
A New Name for the Cathedral
Father Trevis suggested changing the church's name. He had visited a place in France where St. Margaret Mary Alacoque had visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This devotion was very popular in the parish. Bishop Cosgrove also loved the Sacred Heart.
The bishop asked Pope Leo XIII for permission to name the new church Sacred Heart Cathedral. On December 23, 1889, the Pope agreed, as long as a small chapel dedicated to St. Margaret was kept inside. Sacred Heart Cathedral was the first cathedral in the United States to be named after the Sacred Heart.
Amazing Architecture and Design
Sacred Heart Cathedral is built in a Gothic Revival style. It has a tall tower at one corner. The outside walls are made of beautiful Bedford stone. The church is about 180 feet (55 m) long. The main part of the church, called the nave, is 65 feet (20 m) wide. The roof is 75 feet (23 m) high, and the spire on the tower reaches 160 feet (49 m) tall. When it was finished, it was the tallest building in the Quad Cities.
Inside, the church is open and grand, with no columns blocking the view. There's a lot of beautiful woodwork, including the altars, pews, and ceiling. The ceiling is vaulted and supported by special hammer beams. There are statues of St. Peter and St. Paul, and special containers called reliquaries holding relics of saints.
The stained glass windows are very colorful, chosen by Bishop Cosgrove. The tall windows on the sides show the Twelve Apostles. The large round window at the front has symbols like an anchor for hope and a cross for Christ. The biggest window, above the altar, shows Jesus appearing to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.
In 1895, electric lights were first installed in the church. In 1907, the inside was renovated, with new paintings and more lights.
The 20th Century at Sacred Heart
In the early 1900s, Bishop Cosgrove's health declined. Another priest from the cathedral, Bishop Davis, was chosen to help him and later became bishop in 1906.
By 1909, the church's local area was set. It included both poorer parts of the city and some older, wealthier neighborhoods.
On August 20, 1928, lightning struck the cathedral. It caused a fire and a lot of smoke and water damage. Services were held in other buildings while repairs were made. The church was repainted in a gothic style, and the woodwork was stained a dark color.
Two other priests from Davenport were later consecrated as bishops for other dioceses in Sacred Heart Cathedral: Bishop William Adrian in 1936 and Bishop Maurice Dingman in 1968.
Starting in the 1960s, the church made changes based on the Second Vatican Council. In 1964, a new altar was set up so the priest could face the people during Mass. This was the first church in the Quad Cities to do this. In 1980, the old communion rail and pulpit were removed. A new cathedra, or bishop's chair, was placed so the bishop would face the congregation. Services also began to be celebrated in English instead of Latin.
The cathedral parish has always focused on helping people. In 1975, El Centro Cultural Hispano was started to help Spanish-speaking people. Spanish Masses began in 1977. The church also started a clothing center and a food pantry for those in need. It helped create Interfaith Housing to fix up old houses in the city.
In the early 1990s, the cathedral had big renovations, thanks to a generous gift from a parishioner. The roof was replaced, and the inside was repainted. The old painting of St. Margaret of Scotland was also restored and hung in the cathedral.
In the 1990s, Masses in Vietnamese were added for the growing Vietnamese community. A shrine to Our Lady of La Vang was built on the church grounds in 2004.
Sacred Heart in the 21st Century
.jpg)
In 2011, Msgr. Robert Gruss, who was the cathedral's rector, was named a bishop for another diocese. He was the third priest from this church to become a bishop.
In 2012, plans began to update the church facilities. A new entrance that was easy for people with disabilities to use was finished in 2013. In 2016, construction started on a new hall behind the cathedral. This hall has a gathering space, restrooms, and classrooms. It was named the Sears Center Diocesan Hall in 2017, after generous donors. A new parking lot was also added.
A tornado hit Davenport in October 2016, causing some damage to the cathedral and rectory. They were repaired in 2017. The old iron cross on the tower was replaced with a new, gold-leafed aluminum cross. A new carillon (a set of bells) was also added to the tower. The original bell from 1856 was moved and placed in front of the new hall.
Rectory and Convent Buildings
The current rectory, where the priests live, was built in 1895. It was designed in the Tudor Gothic style to match the cathedral's look. It's made of limestone with a steep roof.
The convent, a building where nuns used to live, was built in 1902. It was made of red brick and also followed the Gothic and Tudor styles. It was located behind the cathedral and rectory. In 2012, the convent was taken down to make way for the new handicap-accessible entrance to the cathedral.
Sacred Heart School
The parish school started in 1859 in a wooden building. In 1861, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary began teaching there. A new brick school building was built between 1870 and 1871.
In 1882, Bishop McMullen started St. Ambrose Seminary and Academy using two classrooms at St. Margaret's School. St. Ambrose later moved to its own campus in 1885.
A high school program for girls was offered for about ten years. The third school building was built in 1914.
In the 1990s, the parish school joined with another school to form John Paul Academy for a few years. Later, in 2004, Sacred Heart School joined with Holy Family School to create All Saints School. The old Sacred Heart School building was used for religious education classes until it was taken down in 2017.
Pastors and Rectors
Here are the priests who have led St. Margaret's and Sacred Heart churches. Since 1881, they have also been the cathedral's rector:
- Rev. Andrew Trevis (1856–1861)
- Rev. Henry Cosgrove (1861–1884)
- Rev. Andrew Trevis (1884–1889)
- Rev. James Davis (1889–1906)
- Rev. John Flannagan (1907–1926)
- Msgr. Francis Leonard (1926–1932)
- Msgr. William Shannahan (1932–1937)
- Msgr. Martin Cone (1937–1953)
- Msgr. Thomas Feeney (1953–1968)
- Msgr. Ralph Thompson (1968–1971)
- Msgr. Sebastian Menke (1973–1986)
- Msgr. Marvin Mottet (1986–2005)
- Rev. Robert Busher (2005–2010)
- Msgr. Robert Gruss (2010–2011)
- Rev. Richard Adam (2011–2021)
- Rev. Thomas Hennen (2021–Present)
The Pipe Organ
The first pipe organ in the cathedral was moved from the old St. Margaret's church. It was replaced in 1895 with a new one.
In 1949, a new Kilgen Organ Company pipe organ was installed. It was originally meant for another church, but delays meant it could be placed in Sacred Heart instead.
The Kilgen organ was removed in 1991 and replaced with a new Noack pipe organ. This new organ was first used in 1992.
The organ is located in the back of the cathedral. Some of its pipes are visible. It has two keyboards for hands (manuals) and one for feet (pedals). It has 35 different sounds, or stops.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Sagrado Corazón (Davenport) para niños
