St. Peter's Cathedral (Scranton, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Peter's Cathedral Complex
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St. Peter's Cathedral in September 2009
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 315 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | Amsden, Joel; Hancock, Lewis |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001645 |
| Added to NRHP | July 19, 1976 |
St. Peter's Cathedral is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located at 315 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It is known as the "mother church" for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton, meaning it's the main church for that area. The whole area around the cathedral, called the St. Peter's Cathedral Complex, is a special historic site listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of St. Peter's Cathedral
The church building was first built in 1867. Back then, it was just a regular parish church named St. Vincent de Paul.
Becoming a Cathedral
By 1883, this church had become very important to the diocese (a church district). So, a big project started to make it even grander. Workers remodeled and decorated the church. On September 28, 1884, the newly improved church was officially blessed by Archbishop P. J. Ryan from Philadelphia. Its name was changed to the Cathedral of St. Peter. This new name showed its important role as the main church for the young diocese.
Buildings in the Complex
The cathedral complex includes more than just the main church. It also has the rectory, which is where the priests live, built in 1908. There's also a convent, which is a building where nuns live.
Art and Architecture of the Cathedral
The cathedral is famous for its amazing stained glass windows.
Stained Glass Windows
When the church was first built, its windows were simple, with red and white diamond shapes. But during the big changes in 1883, beautiful stained glass windows were added. Much of this work was designed by Edwin Forrest Durang and later by a German artist named Frank Mayer.
The cathedral has 15 large windows that tell stories from the life of Jesus Christ. They also show the Virgin Mary and other important saints. Some of the most notable windows show:
- The Annunciation, which is when an angel told Mary she would have Jesus.
- The Visitation, when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth.
- The Nativity, which is the birth of Jesus.
- The Last Supper, Jesus's final meal with his disciples.
The Cathedral Organ
The large organ you see in the cathedral today was built in 1979. It was made by a company called Casavant Frères from Quebec, Canada.
Cathedral's National Recognition
The St. Peter's Cathedral Complex was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
In February 2008, the cathedral gained international attention. It was chosen by EWTN's Cathedrals Across America TV series. This meant a special Mass for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter was broadcast live from the cathedral to people all over the world.
See also
Images for kids
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St. Peter's Cathedral in September 2009
