St. Ann's Cathedral (Great Falls, Montana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Ann's Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| 47°30′32″N 111°17′43″W / 47.5088°N 111.2952°W | |
| Location | 715 3rd Avenue N Great Falls, Montana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John H. Kent |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Construction cost | $100,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Great Falls-Billings |
St. Ann's Cathedral is an important Catholic cathedral located in Great Falls, Montana. A cathedral is the main church for a large area called a diocese. St. Ann's shares this role with St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings, Montana.
Because of its historical importance, the cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This means it is officially recognized as a valuable part of American history.
Contents
The Story of St. Ann's
The First Church
The very first St. Ann's Church was a small brick building. It was paid for by three members of the church who promised to cover a $3,000 loan. The first full-time priest, Father Dols, also looked after churches in nearby towns like Cascade and Choteau.
Building a Grand Cathedral
In 1904, the Pope created the Diocese of Great Falls, and St. Ann's became its cathedral. The new bishop, Mathias Clement Lenihan, realized they needed a much larger church for the growing number of people.
The beautiful stone cathedral we see today was built between 1906 and 1907. It was designed by an architect from Helena named John H. Kent. The building cost about $100,000, which would be millions of dollars today. The stone used to build it came from a quarry near the town of Stockett.
The old brick church was not torn down right away. Instead, it was turned into a school for the parish.
Cathedral Architecture
St. Ann's was built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style is inspired by the grand cathedrals built in Europe during the Middle Ages. You can see this in its features:
- Cruciform Plan: The church is shaped like a cross from above.
- Gothic Arches: It has tall, pointed windows and doorways.
- Bell Tower: A single, tall tower with smaller turrets rises high above the building.
At the time it was built, it was the largest church in Great Falls.
Later Changes
Over the years, more buildings were added. A house for the priests, called a rectory, was built in 1931 in a style that matched the cathedral. In 1936, the original brick church was finally torn down. The Heisey Youth Center was built in its place, which is still used by the church community today.
In 1980, the church's role changed slightly. The Pope renamed the diocese to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. St. Patrick's Church in Billings became a "co-cathedral," meaning it shares the title and importance with St. Ann's.
The Cathedral's Pipe Organ
The cathedral has a large pipe organ that was built in 1929 by the Reuter Organ Company. In 1995, it was carefully restored and updated by a company from Washington state. This work improved its sound while keeping its historic character.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa Ana (Great Falls) para niños
