St. Agnes Cathedral (Springfield, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Agnes Cathedral |
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The front of the cathedral, also known as the east façade.
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| 37°12′15″N 93°17′25″W / 37.2041°N 93.2902°W | |
| Location | 533 S. Jefferson Ave. Springfield, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | saintagnescathedral.org |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Dedication | November 24, 1910 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Completed | 1910 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Springfield-Cape Girardeau |
St. Agnes Cathedral is a beautiful Catholic cathedral located in Springfield, Missouri. A cathedral is a special church that serves as the main church for a large area called a diocese.
St. Agnes Cathedral is one of two main churches for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. The other is the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Contents
The Story of St. Agnes
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The history of St. Agnes began long before it became a grand cathedral. It started as a small community that grew over time.
A New Parish is Born
In the late 1800s, the city of Springfield was growing. The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was built in 1870, bringing many new families to the area. The railroad tracks divided the city, making it hard for people, especially children, to get from one side to the other.
Because of this, a new Catholic community, called a parish, was needed for the people living south of the tracks. In 1908, St. Agnes Parish was officially created. At first, the community didn't have its own church building. They rented a nearby church for their services.
Building a Church and School
The community quickly raised money to build their own church. The new St. Agnes Church was completed and dedicated on November 24, 1910. A school for the parish's children was also built on the same property.
Over the years, the parish continued to grow.
- 1916: St. Agnes High School was started. Today, it is known as Springfield Catholic High School.
- 1921: Beautiful stained glass windows were added to the church.
- 1935: After a fire in the basement, the church's wooden floor was replaced with a stronger concrete one.
- 1954: A Christmas service from St. Agnes was the first religious service ever shown on television in Springfield.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1956, a major event happened. Pope Pius XII created the new Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. A new diocese needed a cathedral to be its main church. Because of its size and history, St. Agnes Church was chosen to become St. Agnes Cathedral.
On November 28, 1956, the first bishop of the new diocese was officially installed at St. Agnes. This marked the beginning of its new role as a cathedral.
The church building has been updated over the years. In 1986, the cathedral was renovated and a new section called St. Agnes Chapel was added. The elementary school also got a new building in 1958.
Today, St. Agnes Cathedral continues to be an important center for the Catholic community in southern Missouri.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa Inés (Springfield) para niños
