St. Michael's Episcopal Cathedral (Boise, Idaho) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Michael's Cathedral |
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| Location | Eighth and State Streets Boise, Idaho |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| History | |
| Founded | 1864 |
| Dedication | Saint Michael the Archangel |
| Consecrated | May 25, 1902 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Henry Martyn Congdon |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1900 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Idaho |
St. Michael's Episcopal Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral located in Boise, Idaho, United States. It is the main church for the Diocese of Idaho.
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History of St. Michael's Cathedral
The first church services for the Episcopal Church in Boise happened in August 1864. A church called St. Michael's was started that same year by Reverend Saint Michael Fackler. Just two years later, in 1866, the first church building was built. This was the very first Episcopal church in what is now Idaho, Montana, and Utah.
Today, that original building is called Christ Chapel. You can still see it on the campus of Boise State University.
Building the Current Cathedral
The women's group of the church worked hard to raise money for a new, bigger church. They held concerts, dances, and social events. Construction for the current cathedral building began on September 7, 1899. It was finished the next year, in 1900.
By 1902, all the money owed for the building was paid off. The church was officially dedicated on May 25 of that year. A building called the Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle House was built in 1907 and is connected to the church.
Helping the Community Grow
In the past, people from St. Michael's also helped start other important places in Boise.
- St. Margaret's Hall: This was a school for girls, started in 1892. During the Great Depression (a time when many people had little money), the school changed. In 1932, it became Boise Junior College. This college later became independent in 1934 and is now Boise State University.
- St. Luke's Hospital: This hospital was started just six months after the cathedral was dedicated. Today, it is run by a separate group that helps people without trying to make a profit.
The cathedral is part of the Boise Capitol Area District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it is an important historical site.
Architecture and Design
St. Michael's Cathedral was designed by a famous church architect from New York City, Henry Martyn Congdon. A local architect, John E. Tourtellotte, helped supervise the building work.
Key Features of the Cathedral
The church is built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks back to the grand churches of the Middle Ages.
- Exterior: The outside of the building is covered in Boise sandstone. This type of stone was often used for buildings in Boise when the city was first growing.
- Interior: Inside, you can see special hammerbeam roof trusses. These are strong wooden beams that support the roof in a unique way.
- Windows:
- The large round window on the front, called the Window of the Archangels, was put in place in 1945.
- A special Tiffany window can be found in the east part of the church. It was made around 1918.
- Tower and Spire: The corner tower was part of the original plan and was finished in 1949. The tall, pointed spire on top of the tower was added later, in 1980.
- Transept: The transept, which is the part of the church that crosses the main section, was added in 1976.
See also
