St. James Basilica (Jamestown, North Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. James Catholic Church
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 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 622 1st Ave., S., Jamestown, North Dakota |
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| Built | 1910–1914 |
| Built by | Jeff Shelde |
| Architect | Hancock Brothers |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001346 |
| Added to NRHP | October 22, 1982 |
The St. James Basilica is a special Latin Catholic church in Jamestown, North Dakota, United States. It's part of the Diocese of Fargo. This church is also known as a minor basilica, which is a title given by the Pope to important churches.
Before this building, there was an older church from 1882. That church was briefly a cathedral in the 1800s. The current church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It was given the special title of a minor basilica in 1988.
Contents
History of St. James Basilica
Catholic families started settling in the Jamestown area around 1872. The very first Mass (a church service) in the town happened on January 10, 1879. For three years, the church community didn't have its own building. They met in hotels, schools, and other meeting places.
They also didn't have a full-time priest. Visiting priests would come to lead services. Father Flannigan became the first regular priest for the church in 1882. He helped raise $6,000 to build a wooden church. It was about 86 feet long and 60 feet wide. A small house for the priest, called a rectory, was built next door.
Both buildings were finished in June 1882. Anton Klaus, an important person in Jamestown, gave the land for the church. Bishop Martin Marty officially opened the church on May 13, 1883.
Becoming a Cathedral
On November 10, 1889, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Jamestown. This meant St. James Church became the main church, or "cathedral," for the new diocese. Bishop John Shanley was chosen to lead the diocese.
Bishop Shanley started St. John's Academy. He also added a sacristy (a room for priests' robes and church items) to the cathedral. He updated the rectory too. In 1891, he held the first Catholic Congress of the Dakotas. This was a yearly meeting to help Native Americans in North Dakota.
However, Bishop Shanley found it hard to run the diocese from Jamestown. So, he moved to Fargo in 1891. He had the Cathedral of St. Mary built there. The main city for the diocese officially moved to Fargo on April 6, 1897.
Building the New Church
By the early 1900s, it was clear that a bigger, newer church was needed. The Rev. Edward J. Geraghty and Michael Murphy, a local banker, led the building committee. The Hancock Brothers of Fargo designed the new church. They used the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old European cathedrals.
Jeff Shelde from Litchfield, Minnesota was chosen as the builder. Construction began in 1910 and took four years to complete. Bishop James O'Reilly officially opened the new church on November 29, 1914.
Later Changes and Basilica Title
From 1956 to 1958, the church had a big update. A new, larger rectory was designed by architects from Minneapolis. The church basement was turned into a parish hall for community events. The inside of the church was also updated. This included new paint and simpler altar decorations.
On October 26, 1988, Pope John Paul II gave St. James Church the special title of a minor basilica. Bishop James S. Sullivan led the dedication ceremony on July 23, 1989. A special document from the Pope, which made St. James a basilica, is displayed near the church's southwest entrance.
Architecture and Design
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The St. James Basilica is shaped like a cross. It is about 140 feet long and 50 feet wide. At its widest part, called the transept, it measures 70 feet. The building itself is 42 feet tall. The two towers at the front of the church are 125 feet tall.
The very top of the towers have spires. These spires are topped with crosses covered in 23 carat gold leaf, which makes them shine brightly. The church's foundation is made of rough, trimmed granite. The outside walls are covered in Hebron brick. They are decorated with Bedford stone.
The church can seat 650 people. Another 100 people can fit in the choir loft. The beautiful stained glass windows show scenes from the life of Jesus. These windows were put in by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in 1918.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de Santiago (Jamestown) para niños
