St. James Cathedral (Chicago) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. James Cathedral

Location in Central Chicago
41°53′41″N 87°37′35″W / 41.89467°N 87.62644°W / 41.89467; -87.62644
Location	65 East Huron Street Chicago, Illinois
Country	United States
Denomination	Episcopal Church in the United States of America
History
Founded	1834
Architecture
Architect(s)	Faulkner & Clarke, architects; restoration, Walker Johnson, Holabird & Root, architects
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	1857
Administration
Diocese	Chicago

St. James Cathedral is a very important church in Chicago, Illinois. It's like the main church for the Episcopal Church in the Chicago area. You can find it at the corner of Huron and Wabash streets.

The Story of St. James Cathedral
Pictures of the Cathedral
See also

The Story of St. James Cathedral

St. James Cathedral is the oldest church of its kind in Chicago. It was started way back in 1834. At first, it was just a regular church for the community.

Surviving the Great Chicago Fire

In 1871, a huge event called the Great Chicago Fire happened. This fire destroyed most of the original church building. Only the bell tower was left standing. You can still see the soot-stained (blackened) stones around the top of the tower today. These stones are a reminder of the big fire.

After the fire, the church was rebuilt. The old bell tower was kept and became part of the new building.

Becoming a Cathedral

In 1928, St. James became a "cathedral." A cathedral is a special church that serves as the main church for a bishop. This happened after another cathedral in Chicago was destroyed by fire.

For a short time, from 1928 to 1931, it was a cathedral. Then, on May 3, 1955, St. James was again chosen to be the cathedral. It officially took on this role on June 4, 1955. The church is now led by the Episcopal Bishop of Chicago.