St. Benedict Cathedral (Evansville, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Benedict Cathedral |
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| Location | 1320 Lincoln Ave. Evansville, Indiana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish |
| Founded | 1912 (parish) |
| Dedication | Benedict of Nursia |
| Dedicated | March 18, 1928 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Edward J. Thole (Cathedral) |
| Style | Lombard-Basilica |
| Completed | 1928 |
| Construction cost | $230,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Number of spires | One |
| Spire height | 130 feet (40 m) |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Evansville |
St. Benedict Cathedral is a large Roman Catholic church in Evansville, Indiana. It is the main church for the Diocese of Evansville, which is a large area of churches led by a bishop.
The cathedral, its priest's house (called a rectory), and the original school are all part of the Lincolnshire Historic District. This means they are recognized as important historical buildings and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
From Parish Church to Grand Cathedral
The story of St. Benedict's began over 100 years ago. It started as a local church, called a parish, and grew into the important cathedral it is today.
The First St. Benedict's Parish
In 1912, St. Benedict Parish was created for the growing number of Catholic families living on the east side of Evansville. Benedictine Monks from a nearby monastery, St. Meinrad Abbey, were chosen to lead the new church.
A two-story brick building was built to be both a church and a school. The basement was an assembly hall, the first floor had classrooms, and the church services were held on the second floor. After the current, much larger church was built in 1928, the second floor of the old building was turned into more classrooms.
A house for the priests, called a rectory, was built in 1921. Another house, called a convent, was built in 1913 for the nuns who taught at the school.
Building a New Church
The beautiful church that stands today was finished in 1928. It was built in a style inspired by old churches in the Lombardy region of Italy. This style is called Lombard-Basilica.
The church was designed by a local architect named Edward J. Thole. It has very high ceilings, reaching 65 feet (20 m). A special canopy, called a baldachin, stands over the altar. The church is very large and can seat over 1,000 people. Its tall bell tower, or campanile, rises 130 feet (40 m) into the sky.
The colorful stained glass windows were made by a company in Germany. The altars are made of fine Italian marble. The new church was officially opened, or dedicated, on March 18, 1928.
Later, some changes were made inside the church to update it based on new guidelines from the Second Vatican Council, an important meeting of church leaders.
Becoming a Cathedral
On October 21, 1944, Pope Pius XII created the Diocese of Evansville. A diocese needs a main church, called a cathedral. At first, Assumption Church was chosen, but it was later torn down to build a new civic center.
For many years, another church called Holy Trinity served as a temporary cathedral (or Proto-cathedral). Finally, on April 11, 1999, St. Benedict's was officially named the third cathedral for the Diocese of Evansville. This was a great honor for the parish and its beautiful church.
Church Leaders Over the Years
The priests who have served as the main pastor of St. Benedict are called rectors now that it is a cathedral. Here is a list of the priests who have led the parish:
- Rev. Martin Hoppenjans, OSB (1912–1936)
- Rev. Lambert Enslinger, OSB (1936–1939)
- Rev. Thomas Schaefers, OSB (1939–1942)
- Rev. Gilbert Hess, OSB (1942–1943)
- Rev. Gabriel Verkamp, OSB (1943–1963)
- Rev. Father Alban Berling, OSB (1963–1973)
- Revs. Lambert Reilly, OSB and Lawrence Ward, OSB (co-pastors, 1973–1974)
- Rev. Cyril Vrablic, OSB (1974–1977)
- Rev. Camillus Elsperman, OSB (1977–1991)
- Very Rev. Gregory Chamberlin, OSB (1991–2013)
- Very Rev. Godfrey Mullen, OSB (2013–2022)
- Very Rev. Alex Zenthoefer (2022–present)
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Benito (Evansville) para niños
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- St. Francis Xavier Cathedral and Library in Vincennes, Indiana. This was the first cathedral for the region.
