St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral (Metuchen, New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
|
|
| 40°32′45″N 74°21′48″W / 40.5457°N 74.3634°W | |
| Location | 32 Elm Ave. Metuchen, New Jersey |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Dedicated | May 19, 1963 |
| Consecrated | 1981 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1963 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Metuchen |
The St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral is a special Catholic church. It is located in Metuchen, New Jersey, United States. This church is the main church, or cathedral, for the Diocese of Metuchen.
Contents
History of St. Francis of Assisi
Early Days of the Parish
St. Francis started as a small mission church in 1871. It was built with a simple wooden frame. This first church was dedicated to St. Joseph.
The St. Francis Parish officially began in this same church on January 26, 1878. Sadly, a fire destroyed the church building on December 21, 1903. A second church, also made of wood, was built and opened in December 1904. Later, Columbia Hall was built in 1920.
Building a New Church
By 1960, the church community had grown a lot. There were more than 2,000 families! The pastor, Father John J. Foley, decided it was time for a new, bigger church. Around this time, Columbia Hall was also destroyed in a fire. So, the plans for the new building were changed. They now included a parish hall and a gymnasium.
The rectory, which is where the priests live, was finished in June 1961. Construction for the new church began on July 24 of the same year. While the new church was being built, church services were held in different places. This continued until the CYO Hall was completed in December 1961. The current church building was officially opened on May 19, 1963.
Becoming a Cathedral
A very important event happened on November 19, 1981. Pope John Paul II created the new Diocese of Metuchen. A diocese is a special area managed by a bishop. St. Francis Church was chosen to be the main church for this new diocese. This means it became a cathedral.
On April 30, 2019, the St. Michael's Choir School visited the Cathedral. They sang there as part of their 2019 New York Tour.
Architecture and Design
The Cathedral of St. Francis was built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old European churches. It can seat about 1,000 people inside.
The walls inside are made of a type of stone called limestone. The lower part of the walls has marble panels. The floors are made of terrazzo, which is a mix of stone chips and concrete. All the wooden parts, like the pews, are made from oak.
The altars, which are special tables used for services, are carved from Italian marble. Above the main altar, there is a large bronze crucifix. This is part of a special canopy called a baldacchino. The front of the church, called the facade, has a beautiful round window known as a rose window.
Leaders of the Cathedral
Since 1981, when St. Francis became a cathedral, several priests have served as its rector. The rector is the priest in charge of the cathedral.
- Msgr. Dominic Turtora
- Msgr. Richard A. Behl
- Msgr. Michael J. Alliegro
- Msgr. Robert J. Zamorski
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Francisco de Asís (Metuchen) para niños
