St. Paul's Cathedral (Oklahoma City) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul's Cathedral
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 127 7th St., NW. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Arthur J. Williams |
| Architectural style | Norman Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001096 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1977 |
St. Paul's Cathedral is a very old and important church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It is the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. This beautiful building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977, meaning it's a special landmark!
Contents
The Story of St. Paul's Cathedral
How St. Paul's Began
St. Paul's started as a small church group, called a "mission," in 1891. At first, the people met in different places, even in the federal courthouse!
In 1893, they built their first wooden church building. The group grew, and by May 14, 1902, it became a full "parish."
Building the Cathedral
The first stone for the church you see today was placed in 1903. The very first church service in the new building happened on March 13, 1904. A "parish house," which is a building for church activities, also opened that same year.
In January 1909, the leaders of the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma decided to make St. Paul's their main church, or "Cathedral." Later, in 1949, an educational building was added for classes and learning.
Rebuilding After a Disaster
On April 19, 1995, St. Paul's Cathedral was badly damaged. A bomb exploded at the nearby Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The explosion shattered the Celtic Cross on top of the church.
The roof was lifted up, and the walls were pushed outwards. The cathedral had to close for two years while it was being fixed. They also bought more land and built a new place for offices and community programs. All the repairs and new buildings cost about $7.5 million.
Amazing Architecture and Design
A Special Style of Building
Arthur J. Williams designed St. Paul's Cathedral in a style called Norman Gothic. This means it looks like old churches from the Norman period in Europe. The outside of the church has a tall tower that looks like a Norman castle tower.
Beautiful Art Inside
Inside the church, you can see two special windows made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. These beautiful windows are located behind the altar.
There are also many Stained glass windows throughout the church. On one side, the windows show important figures like St. John, St. Paul, and St. Luke. On the other side, the windows show famous moments from the life of Jesus, like his birth, his crucifixion, and his resurrection.
The altar, where services are held, the pulpit, where sermons are given, and the baptismal font, used for baptisms, are all carved from beautiful Carrara marble.
See also
