Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral (Indianapolis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral |
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Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in 2023
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 Location in Indianapolis
Location in Indiana
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| 39°47′07″N 86°09′25″W / 39.7853°N 86.1569°W | |
| Location | 1347 North Meridian Street Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Founder(s) | Most Reverend Silas Chatard |
| Dedicated | December 21, 1906 Rededicated May 14, 1986 |
| Consecrated | December 21, 1906 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell, W. L. Coulter; William W. Renwick |
| Style | Classical Revival |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Materials | Limestone Brick |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Indianapolis |
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is a large and important Roman Catholic church in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is the main church for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. This means it's where the Archbishop of Indianapolis, currently Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, has his official seat. The church is named after two important Christian leaders, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
The cathedral was designed in a Classical Revival style by a New York architecture firm. It was built in different stages. The main church building and a temporary front were finished between 1905 and 1907. The permanent front was added later in 1936. The first Bishop of Indianapolis, Silas Chatard, started the church parish in 1892. The cathedral is well-known for its beautiful church services and sacred music.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
How the Parish Started
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The Saints Peter and Paul Parish began in 1892. Bishop Silas Chatard officially created this new church community in a neighborhood north of downtown Indianapolis. Before this, another church, Saint John the Evangelist Church, served as the main church for the diocese in Indianapolis from 1878 to 1906.
Bishop Chatard bought land for the church complex in 1890 and 1894. He paid for it using private donations. In 1898, Pope Leo XIII officially moved the main office of the diocese from Vincennes to Indianapolis. This made Saints Peter and Paul the main church for the diocese.
Chapel and Rectory Buildings
Work on the church's chapel and rectory (the bishop's house) started in 1891. They were finished the next year, in 1892. The chapel was later updated between 1907 and 1918. After this, it was named the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Designing and Building the Cathedral
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After the diocese moved to Indianapolis in 1898, Bishop Chatard began raising money for a new cathedral. Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral was built from 1905 to 1907. It had a temporary front at first because there wasn't enough money to finish it. The permanent front and two tall spires were planned for later.
The full front of the cathedral was finally built in 1936. The church has also had big updates inside in 1915, 1936, and 1985. The original design for the cathedral was changed to cost less. This made the church a bit shorter and narrower, and it didn't get the domes or side chapels that were first planned.
The cathedral's design is thought to be similar to Saint John Lateran in Rome, Italy. This is special because Bishop Chatard became a priest at Saint John Lateran. The main altar of the unfinished cathedral was blessed on December 21, 1906. The first big church service happened there on Christmas Day, 1906.
In 1985 and 1986, the cathedral had a major renovation. This update cost $1.7 million and changed the inside to fit new church practices. The updated cathedral was officially reopened on May 14, 1986.
What the Cathedral Looks Like
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The cathedral is the main building in a group of buildings. This group also includes a three-story rectory (where the priests live) and a two-story service building. There is also a chapel next to the main church.
Outside and Layout
The cathedral is about 188 feet long and 80 feet wide. Its walls are made of brick with Limestone details. The permanent front of the church is in a Roman classical style. It has four tall columns, each about 56 feet high.
The front has three main doorways. Above the north door, you can see the U.S. coat of arms. Above the south door is the seal of Indiana. Over the middle door are symbols of the Catholic Church, like a ship and a cross. The front also has two empty spaces where statues of Saints Peter and Paul are meant to go.
Inside the Cathedral
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The inside of the cathedral has changed a lot over the years due to several updates. The original inside had light-colored walls. Side altars were added in 1908. Many of the original dark oak furnishings, like the pews (church benches) and the pulpit (where sermons are given), have been removed or replaced.
In 1936, murals of Christ and saints were covered with beautiful glass mosaics. These mosaics show Christ in Majesty with Saints Peter and Paul. The original floor and the main marble altar were also replaced later.
The cathedral has statues carved from white Carrara marble by an Italian sculptor named Cesare Aureli. These include statues of the Blessed Mother and Child and Saint Joseph. A large Crucifixion scene was added above the main altar in 1915. There is also a copy of a famous sculpture called Pietà.
The beautiful stained-glass windows were replaced in the late 1920s or early 1930s. There are twenty-one new windows showing Saints Peter and Paul, symbols of the Four Evangelists, and other religious images.
In 1936, the sanctuary (the area around the altar) was updated. The floor was covered in marble, and the walls were also covered in marble. The church's organ, first installed in 1907, was rebuilt as part of this update.
In 1985 and 1986, major changes were made to the sanctuary. This included moving some statues, changing the colors and lighting, and adding a new altar made of white oak and marble. The old marble bishop's throne was replaced with a white oak chair.
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
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The chapel is about 80 feet long and 34 feet wide. Its main entrance has columns that hold up an arched roof. The inside of the chapel was updated in 1918 and is decorated with Venetian mosaics. The walls have paintings of eleven angels. The art-glass windows in the chapel show scenes like the Last Supper and angels.
Who Belongs to the Church
The number of people belonging to the parish was highest in 1949, with almost 4,700 members. However, the number of members has gone down over the years. By 1984, there were only 289 members. In 2015, the church had 165 families. This decline happened because older members passed away, and many families moved to the suburbs. To help the church grow again, the cathedral complex was greatly updated in 1985 and 1986.
Important Ordinations
Many important church leaders have been ordained (officially made priests or bishops) at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Bishop Joseph Chartrand, who became the second Bishop of Indianapolis, was ordained a priest in the chapel in 1892. He later became the Bishop of Indianapolis in 1910.
Joseph Elmer Ritter, who became the first Archbishop of Indianapolis, was also ordained here. He was made an auxiliary bishop in 1933 and then Bishop of Indianapolis in 1934. When the diocese became an archdiocese in 1944, Ritter became its first archbishop.
Bishops Chatard and Chartrand were first buried in a special crypt (underground vault) at the cathedral. Later, in 1976, their remains were moved to a cemetery in Indianapolis.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de los Santos Pedro y Pablo (Indianápolis) para niños
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
