St. Paul's Cathedral, Valparaíso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Paul |
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| 33°02′32″S 71°37′38″W / 33.04234°S 71.62723°W | |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Anglican Church of Chile |
| History | |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Monumento Nacional (Supreme Decree #1876, July 19, 1979) |
| Architect(s) | William Lloyd |
| Architectural type | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1857–1858 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Valparaíso |
St. Paul's Cathedral, also known as Catedral de San Pablo in Spanish, is a very old Anglican church in Valparaíso, Chile. It sits on Cerro Concepción, a hill in the part of Valparaíso where many British people used to live. This church has been a special National Monument of Chile since 1979. It became a cathedral in 2016.
Contents
History of St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's started in 1837 as a small church in a house. It served the British people who had moved to Valparaíso. Traveling Anglican chaplains held church services there.
At that time, Chilean law only allowed Catholicism. Other religions faced restrictions until 1865. But by 1857, the British community in Valparaíso was growing. They had more influence and wealth. So, Anglicans were allowed to build a church on Cerro Concepción. The British Consul, William Rouse, helped raise money for the new church.
Building the Church
Because of the rules about religious freedom, the church building could not look too much like a church. It was not allowed to have a steeple or a tall tower. Also, its doors could not be larger than those of local Catholic churches. This meant people had to enter through a side door.
The church was designed by an English architect and engineer named William Henry Lloyd. He was in Chile to build the railway line between Santiago and Valparaíso. After a big earthquake in Valparaíso in 1906, Carlos Federico Claussen helped repair the church.
Becoming a Cathedral
On March 19, 2016, the Anglican Diocese of Chile declared the church a cathedral. This made it the first Anglican cathedral in Chile.
On June 5, 2022, St. Paul's held a special service. It celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Bishop Samuel Morrison led the service. Louise de Souza, the British ambassador to Chile, also attended.
National Monument Status
Since July 19, 1979, St. Paul's has been a historic monument. It was recognized by the Council of National Monuments of Chile. It also helps make Valparaíso's historic quarter a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Architecture and Design
The outside of the cathedral looks simple. It does not have a tower or a very grand entrance. A three-sided room for baptisms sticks out from the church's east end.
The inside of the building looks as it has since 1883. It has one long main hall called a nave. Light comes in through tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The roof is held up by wooden beams that you can see. A wooden screen, called a rood screen, separates the main hall from the choir area.
In 1903, a special organ was bought for the church. It was a pneumatic, water-powered pipe organ. This was done to remember Queen Victoria. The beautiful stained glass windows in St. Paul's came from the United Kingdom. There are also two plaques inside. They remember the people from Valparaíso of British background who died in World War I.
Music at St. Paul's
Since 1995, St. Paul's has hosted weekly Sunday afternoon organ concerts. These concerts help raise money to restore the church. The concert series is called “Música en las alturas,” which means "Music in the Heights." It is the only regular series of organ performances in Chile.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral anglicana de San Pablo (Valparaíso) para niños
