Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral (Indianapolis) facts for kids

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Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in 2023
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39°47′07″N 86°09′25″W / 39.7853°N 86.1569°W / 39.7853; -86.1569
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; 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 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 was named after Saint Peter and Saint Paul, two important figures in Christian history.

The cathedral was designed by the architectural firm Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell from New York City. It was built in a Neoclassical style. The church complex includes the cathedral, a chapel, and the bishop's residence (called a rectory). Construction happened in different stages. The rectory and chapel were finished in 1892. The main cathedral building was built between 1905 and 1907. Its permanent front (facade) was added later in 1936.

History of the Cathedral
What the Cathedral Looks Like
Church Membership
Important Ordinations
See also

History of the Cathedral

How the Parish Started

A stained glass window showing St. Peter.

The Saints Peter and Paul Parish began in 1892. At that time, Bishop Silas Chatard officially created this new church community. It was 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.

In 1898, Pope Leo XIII officially moved the main office of the diocese from Vincennes to Indianapolis. This made Saints Peter and Paul the new main church, or cathedral, for the diocese. The church is well-known for its special religious services and beautiful music.

Building the Chapel and Rectory

Construction for the church's chapel and the rectory (where the bishop lived) started on July 15, 1891. The chapel was officially opened on March 25, 1892. Bishop Chatard and Monsignor Auguste Bessonies moved into the rectory soon after, on April 18, 1892. The chapel was later updated in 1907, but the work wasn't finished until 1918 because of World War I. After the updates, it was named the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

Designing and Building the Cathedral

A stained glass window showing St. Paul.

After the diocese moved to Indianapolis in 1898, Bishop Chatard began planning for a new, larger cathedral. Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral was built between 1905 and 1907. It first had a temporary front. The plan for a permanent front and two tall spires was put on hold because there wasn't enough money.

Bishop Joseph Ritter helped finish the cathedral in 1936 when the permanent front was finally built. The inside of the cathedral has been changed several times over the years, including major updates in 1915, 1936, and 1985.

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 original plans for the Indianapolis cathedral were changed to save money. This made the building a bit smaller and removed some domes and side chapels.

William W. Renwick, whose uncle was a famous architect, took charge of the cathedral's design around 1900. The local architectural firm D. A. Bohlen and Son helped supervise the building work. William Renwick designed the first interior decorations, including the altars and ceiling. The main altar of the unfinished cathedral was dedicated on December 21, 1906. The first big church service in the new cathedral happened on December 25, 1906.

In 1936, August Bohlen, a grandson of D. A. Bohlen, oversaw the building of the permanent front. Later, in 1985 and 1986, the cathedral had a big renovation. This project cost $1.7 million and updated the church based on changes from the Second Vatican Council. The newly updated cathedral was rededicated on May 14, 1986.

What the Cathedral Looks Like

A close-up of the Great Seal of the United States on the cathedral's exterior.

The cathedral is the main building in a group of buildings. This group also includes a three-story rectory and a two-story service area, plus the chapel.

Outside and Layout

The cathedral is about 188 feet long and 80 feet wide. Its walls were built with brick and decorated with limestone from Bedford, Indiana. The permanent front of the cathedral has a Roman classical design. It features four tall columns, each about 56 feet high and 5.5 feet wide.

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 symbol. The front also has two empty spaces where statues of Saints Peter and Paul are meant to be placed.

Inside the Cathedral

Inside view of the cathedral from the organ loft.

The organ loft at the back of the church.

The inside of the cathedral has changed a lot over time due to several renovations. Originally, the walls were tinted with ivory colors. The first dark oak furniture, like the pews (church benches) and the pulpit (where sermons are given), has been removed or replaced.

In 1936, glass mosaics were added to the upper part of the church, showing Christ in Majesty with Saints Peter and Paul. The original floor and the main marble altar were also replaced in later renovations.

The church has beautiful statues. Cesare Aureli, a sculptor from Rome, carved statues of the Blessed Mother and Child and Saint Joseph from white Carrara marble. These were put in around 1909. A statue of Saint Frances de Sales was added in 1911. There is also a copy of Antonio Montauti's Pietà, which shows Mary holding Jesus after his crucifixion.

The stained-glass windows were replaced in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The Rambusch Decorating Company designed 21 new windows. These windows show Saints Peter and Paul, the coats of arms of important bishops and popes, and symbols of the Four Evangelists.

In 1936, the floor in the sanctuary (the area around the altar) was extended and covered in marble. The walls were also covered with marble, and a new baptistery (for baptisms) was installed. The cathedral's organ, first put in in 1907, was rebuilt as part of these updates.

In 1985 and 1986, major renovations happened again. These included redecorating the sanctuary, changing the colors, flooring, and lighting. The old pews were removed, and a new altar was added. The marble bishop's throne was replaced with a white oak chair, and a new lectern (reading stand) replaced the old marble pulpit.

Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Inside the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

The chapel is about 80 feet long and 34 feet wide. Its main entrance has double columns supporting an arched roof. The inside of the chapel was greatly renovated in 1918. It is decorated with beautiful Venetian mosaics. The walls have paintings of eleven angels. The art-glass windows show scenes like the Last Supper and angels.

Church Membership

The number of people who were members of the parish reached its highest point in 1949, with 4,684 members. However, membership slowly went down after that. By 1984, there were only 289 members. As of 2015, the parish has 165 families. The decrease in members happened because older members passed away, families moved to the suburbs, and the neighborhood around the cathedral changed. To help the church grow again, the cathedral complex had a big renovation in 1985 and 1986.

Important Ordinations

Exterior view from North Meridian Street.

Many important events have happened at the cathedral. Bishop Joseph Chartrand, who became the second Bishop of Indianapolis, was ordained as a priest in the Saints Peter and Paul chapel on September 24, 1892. He later became the rector (head priest) of the cathedral in 1905. He was consecrated as Bishop of Indianapolis at the cathedral on September 15, 1910.

Joseph Elmer Ritter, who became the first Archbishop of Indianapolis, was also named rector of the cathedral in 1925. He was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop at the cathedral in 1933. When the diocese became an archdiocese on November 17, 1944, Ritter became its first archbishop.

Bishops Chatard and Chartrand were first buried in a special crypt (underground vault) at the cathedral. In 1976, their remains were moved to a mausoleum chapel in Calvary Cemetery in Indianapolis.