St. Mary's Cathedral (Colorado Springs, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary's Catholic Church
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 Location in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 26 W. Kiowa St., Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Pease & Barber |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002301 |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1982 |
St. Mary's Cathedral is a special Catholic church located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It is called a "cathedral" because it is the main church for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. This means it is where the bishop of the area has his official seat. St. Mary's is also recognized as an important historical building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Contents
History of St. Mary's Cathedral
Early Beginnings of the Church
The very first Catholic Mass in Colorado Springs happened in 1873. It was led by Father Joseph P. Machebeuf. For a while, Catholics met in different places around the city. Then, in 1888, the land where St. Mary's Cathedral now stands was bought for $3,100.
Building the Cathedral
The church building you see today was designed by architects named Pease and Barber. They designed it in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like the grand churches built in Europe many centuries ago. The lower part of the church was finished in 1891. The upper part was completed seven years later, in 1898. The church was officially dedicated on December 19, 1898.
Adding Towers and Spires
More features were added to the church over time. The tall bell towers on the front of the church were built in 1902. The pointed tops of these towers, called spires, were finished in 1907.
Interior Updates and Features
From 1902 to 1904, the church had a big redecorating project. During this time, beautiful Gothic arched ceilings were added. Six new windows were placed along the side aisles. Electric lights were also installed, which was very modern for the time. In 1916, a new pipe organ was put into the church. Later, from 1923 to 1924, more windows were added. These included windows in the clerestory (the upper part of the church walls) and the apse (the rounded end of the church). The large, circular rose window on the main front wall of the church was given its current design in 1930.
Becoming a Cathedral
A very important event happened on November 10, 1983. Pope John Paul II created the Diocese of Colorado Springs. A diocese is a special area managed by a bishop. St. Mary's was chosen to be the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese. Bishop Richard Hanifen became the first bishop of the diocese on January 30, 1984.
Modern Renovations
The original 1916 pipe organ was replaced in 2002. Another major renovation of St. Mary's was completed in 2003. The inside of the church was refreshed and updated. A new entrance was built on the southwest side of the church. A gathering space, an outdoor plaza, and meeting rooms were also added. In 2005, the St. Mary's Cathedral Columbarium opened. A columbarium is a place where urns containing ashes of deceased people are stored.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María (Colorado Springs) para niños
