St. Joseph Old Cathedral (Oklahoma City) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Joseph's Cathedral
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 307 NW 4th St. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1901-1902 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002253 |
| Added to NRHP | January 30, 1978 |
St. Joseph Old Cathedral is a historic church in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. This church was once the main cathedral for the 'Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa' from 1905 to 1931. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The cathedral was badly damaged during the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 but was later repaired.
Contents
Building a Community Church
The first priest, Reverend Nicolas F. Scallon, arrived in Oklahoma City on April 22, 1889. He was the first religious leader for the new town's Catholic settlers. In those early days, church services were often held in a tent. This tent usually served as McGinley's General Store.
Less than two weeks later, three pieces of land were bought for $225. Construction on a church building began on July 1, 1889. It was a small wooden church, measuring 24 by 40 feet. The building was finished just one month later. A large 650-pound bell was purchased for $101. The very first church service in St. Joseph's Church took place on August 4, 1889.
A New, Grand Cathedral
As the 20th century began, the church community grew much larger. The old wooden building was no longer big enough. Plans were made to build a much bigger church. Work on the new church started on October 19, 1901. It was completed the following year.
Bishop Theophile Meerschaert officially opened the new church on December 18, 1904. The church was built using Coffeyville brick. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old European cathedrals. The church has a tall central tower with a pointed spire. Two shorter towers stand on each side, topped with castle-like designs called crenellations. The entire building is 137 feet long and 64 feet wide.
Becoming a Cathedral
Just one year after the new church was dedicated, something very important happened. On August 23, 1905, St. Pius X created the Diocese of Oklahoma City. This meant St. Joseph's Church became the very 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 diocese's main cathedral until 1931. That year, Pope Pius XI chose Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church to be the new diocesan cathedral. Even though it was no longer the main cathedral, St. Joseph's continued to be an important parish church for the downtown area.
Surviving the 1995 Bombing
St. Joseph's Old Cathedral was severely damaged on April 19, 1995. A bomb exploded at the nearby Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. This terrible event caused a lot of destruction. Most of the beautiful stained glass windows on the east side of the church were shattered. The large pipe organ inside the church was also badly damaged.
The force of the explosion lifted the church's roof several inches off its steel supports. Many of the wooden rafters that held up the roof were broken. Plaster fell from the walls and ceiling. The painted, symbolic plaster decorations were also destroyed. The church had to be closed for almost two years for repairs.
To remember the event, a statue carved from Italian marble was created. It is called And Jesus Wept and stands next to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. This statue was dedicated in May 1997. The church itself was rededicated on December 1, 1997, after all the repairs were finished.
A Place of Hope and Remembrance
St. Joseph's also played a role in another important moment in history. An interfaith prayer service was held there on September 12, 2001. This service took place after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
During the service, Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran spoke. He said, "This building was rebuilt as a sign of faith and remembrance of those people who were killed at the site of the Murrah Bombing. We gather here today to mourn the loss of our brothers and sisters in New York City and in Washington, D.C." The church, having survived its own tragedy, became a symbol of hope and healing for others.
See also
In Spanish: Antigua Catedral de San José (Oklahoma City) para niños
