Sacred Heart Church (Raleigh, North Carolina) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart Church, Raleigh
Location in North Carolina
35°46′51″N 78°38′31″W / 35.78083°N 78.64194°W / 35.78083; -78.64194
Location	200 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, North Carolina
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Website	http://www.sacredheartcathedral.org/ (Site address currently being used for both Sacred Heart Church and the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral)
History
Former name(s)	Sacred Heart Cathedral
Founded	1879
Dedicated	October 1924
Architecture
Style	Neo-Gothic
Groundbreaking	1922
Completed	1924
Specifications
Capacity	320
Materials	Stone
Administration
Diocese	Raleigh

Sacred Heart Church is a Catholic church in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It is located on Hillsborough Street in the United States. This church was the main church, or cathedral, for the Diocese of Raleigh from 1924 to 2017.

In 1978, Sacred Heart Church and its other buildings became part of the Capitol Area Historic District. This district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. The church is also home to the Cathedral School, which used to be called Sacred Heart Cathedral School.

History of Sacred Heart Church
A New Cathedral for a Growing Community
Cathedral School
Images for kids
See also

History of Sacred Heart Church

Interior of the church in 2017

Sacred Heart Parish was started in 1879. Construction on the current church building began in 1922. It was finished just two years later, in 1924. Later that same year, the Catholic Church created the Diocese of Raleigh. Sacred Heart Church then became its main cathedral. At that time, North Carolina was the last state to have its own Catholic diocese. There were not many Catholics living there yet.

The rectory, which is where the priests live, was finished in 1917. A convent for the Dominican sisters was built in 1927. The school building was completed in 1938. All these buildings use rough stone with raised mortar. The church itself has a simple design. It features Gothic style elements. These include pointed arches, tall narrow windows called lancet windows, and decorative buttresses. There is also a corner tower with a tall, pointed top called a spire. Above the main entrance, you can see a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

A New Cathedral for a Growing Community

Sacred Heart Church could only seat about 300 people. This made it one of the smallest Catholic cathedrals in the United States. Because of its small size, the church had to hold eleven services each weekend. This was needed to fit all the people who wanted to attend.

In 2011, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge announced plans for a new, larger cathedral. This new church would replace Sacred Heart. It was needed because the number of people in the parish and diocese was growing. Fundraising for the new building began in September 2011. The new cathedral was built on a large piece of land. This land was also home to the diocesan offices and Cardinal Gibbons High School.

Construction for the new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral started on January 3, 2015. It cost $41 million to build and can seat 2,000 people. The new cathedral was officially opened on July 26, 2017. Sacred Heart Church is still used for daily services, weddings, and funerals. However, it no longer holds Sunday services.

Cathedral School

Cathedral School is a school for students from Pre-Kindergarten to eighth grade. It is located right next to Sacred Heart Church. The school first opened in 1909. It helps educate young Catholics and prepares them for high school. After attending Cathedral School, many students go on to Cardinal Gibbons High School.

Cardinal Gibbons High School was once located at Sacred Heart Cathedral. It was first called Sacred Heart High School, then Cathedral Latin High School. In 2007, Cathedral School received a National Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award. This award recognizes schools for their overall academic excellence. The Cathedral School will eventually move to the site of the new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.