St. Joseph Old Cathedral (Oklahoma City) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
St. Joseph's Cathedral
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 307 NW 4th St. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|---|---|
| Built | 1901-1902 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002253 |
| Added to NRHP | January 30, 1978 |
St. Joseph Old Cathedral is an important church in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It's a special place for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. For many years, from 1905 to 1931, it was the main church, or "cathedral," for the area. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Sadly, the church was badly damaged during the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, but it was later repaired.
Contents
The Story of St. Joseph's Church
The first priest to arrive in Oklahoma City was Father Nicolas F. Scallon. He got there on April 22, 1889. He quickly found other Catholic families in the new town. At first, they held church services in a tent that was also a general store!
Less than two weeks later, Father Scallon bought three plots of land for $225. Building a church started on July 1, 1889. It was a small wooden church, about 24 by 40 feet. It was finished just one month later. A large, 650-pound bell was bought for $101. The very first church service in St. Joseph's Church happened on August 4, 1889.
Building a Bigger Church
As the 1900s began, more and more people joined the church. The small wooden building was becoming too small. So, plans were made to build a much larger church. Work on the new building started on October 19, 1901. It was finished the next year.
Bishop Theophile Meerschaert officially opened the new church on December 18, 1904. The church was built using special Coffeyville bricks. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old European cathedrals. It has a tall central tower with a pointed top, called a spire. On each side of the main tower are two shorter towers with castle-like tops. The building is quite large, measuring 137 feet long and 64 feet wide.
Becoming a Cathedral
Just one year after the new church opened, something very important happened. On August 23, 1905, Pope Pius X created the Diocese of Oklahoma City. This meant St. Joseph's Church became the first "cathedral" in Oklahoma. A cathedral is the main church for a diocese, where the bishop has his special chair.
St. Joseph's served as the main cathedral until 1931. Then, Pope Pius XI chose a different church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, to be the new diocesan cathedral. Even after this change, St. Joseph's continued to be an important church for the people living in downtown Oklahoma City.
Surviving a Bombing
On April 19, 1995, St. Joseph's Old Cathedral was badly damaged. A bomb exploded at the nearby Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The explosion shattered most of the beautiful stained glass windows on the east side of the church. The large pipe organ was also severely harmed. The force of the blast lifted the roof several inches off its steel supports, breaking some of the wooden beams. Plaster fell from the walls and ceiling, and painted decorations were destroyed.
The church had to close for almost two years to be repaired. A special statue made from Italian marble, called And Jesus Wept, was created. It stands next to the Oklahoma City National Memorial to remember the event. The statue was dedicated in May 1997. The church was officially reopened and rededicated on December 1 of the same year.
A Place for Hope
Years later, after the September 11 attacks in 2001 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, an interfaith prayer service was held at St. Joseph's. This service, on September 12, 2001, brought people of different faiths together. Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran spoke during the service. He said that the church building was rebuilt to show faith and remember those lost in the Oklahoma City bombing. He added that they gathered that day to mourn the loss of people in New York City and Washington, D.C.
See also
In Spanish: Antigua Catedral de San José (Oklahoma City) para niños
