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 | |
| 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. It is the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. You can find it at the corner of Huron and Wabash streets.
Contents
History of St. James Cathedral
Early Days and Famous Visitors
St. James Cathedral is the oldest church of its kind in the Chicago area. It was started way back in 1834. A very famous person, Abraham Lincoln, visited this church. He came with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, on November 25, 1860. This was just a few weeks after he was elected president of the United States. Many important people from Chicago also joined him.
Surviving the Great Chicago Fire
The original St. James building was mostly destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This huge fire burned down much of Chicago. But guess what? The church's bell tower survived! When the church was rebuilt, they kept the old bell tower. You can still see the soot-stained stones at the top of the tower. They are still black from the fire, even today.
Becoming a Cathedral
St. James became a "cathedral" in 1928. A cathedral is the main church for a bishop. This happened after another cathedral was destroyed in a fire. For a short time, it stopped being a cathedral in 1931. But on May 3, 1955, St. James was again named the cathedral. It officially became the main church on June 4, 1955. The church is led by the Episcopal Bishop of Chicago.
Chicago's Cathedral District
St. James Cathedral is part of a special area in Chicago called the Cathedral District. It is joined by two other important churches. These are the Roman Catholic Holy Name Cathedral and the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral.
Leaders of St. James
The church has had many leaders over the years. Before it became a cathedral, these leaders were called Rectors. After 1955, when it became a cathedral, the leaders were called Deans.
Rectors (Before 1955)
- 1834-1843: The Rev. Isaac W. Hallam
- 1843-1844: The Rev. William F. Walker
- 1844-1849: The Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg
- 1849-1865: The Rev. Robert H. Clarkson
- 1867-1871: The Rev. Joseph H. Rylance
- 1871-1872: The Rev. Hugh M. Thompson
- 1872-1875: The Rev. Arthur Brooks
- 1875-1879: The Rev. Samuel Smith Harris
- 1880-1882: The Rev. Frederick Courtney
- 1883-1890: The Rev. William H. Vibbert
- 1891-1894: The Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins
- 1895-1922: The Rev. James S. Stone
- 1924-1950: The Rev. Duncan H. Browne
- 1950-1955: The Rev. Howard S. Kennedy
Deans (Since 1955)
- 1955-1964: The Very Rev. Howard S. Kennedy
- 1964-1971: The Very Rev. William F. Maxwell, Jr.
- 1972-1979: The Very Rev. James E. Carroll
- 1979-1990: The Very Rev. Charles R. Greene
- 1991-2000: The Very Rev. Todd D. Smelser
- 2001-2005 The Very Rev. Ralph T. Blackman
- 2006-2014: The Very Rev. Joy E. Rogers
- 2015–2022: The Very Rev. Dominic Barrington
- 2022-Current: The Very Rev. Lisa Hackney-James
Images for kids
-
The original church before the Great Fire
-
What was left of the church after the Great Fire of 1871
-
The rebuilt church in 1913
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
