St. Peter Cathedral (Erie, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Peter Cathedral |
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| 42°7′27″N 80°5′13″W / 42.12417°N 80.08694°W | |
| Location | 230 West 10th Street Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | February 1873 |
| Dedication | Saint Peter |
| Dedicated | August 2, 1893 |
| Consecrated | May 17, 1911 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Patrick Keely |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | August 1, 1875 |
| Construction cost | $274,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Width | 112 ft (34 m) |
| Number of spires | 3 |
| Spire height | 265 ft (81 m) Central 150 ft (46 m) Side |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Bells | 12 |
| Tenor bell weight | 4,500 lb (2,040 kg) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Erie |
| Province | Philadelphia |
St. Peter Cathedral is a large and beautiful Roman Catholic church in Erie, Pennsylvania. You can find it at 230 West 10th Street. It's a very important building for the people who live in Erie.
Contents
A Look Back: How the Cathedral Was Built
Building St. Peter Cathedral started in 1873. Bishop Tobias Mullen from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie had the idea. The first stone, called a cornerstone, was placed on August 1, 1875. This was a special ceremony.
It took many years to build the cathedral. People from churches all over the diocese helped raise money. The cathedral was finally finished in 1893. The main architect was Patrick Keely from Brooklyn. He was famous for designing many churches, including 21 cathedrals in the eastern United States.
What Makes the Cathedral Special
The cathedral's design is called Gothic Revival. This style looks like old European churches. It also has parts of the French Victorian style, known as Second Empire.
Building Materials
Much of the stone for the church's base came from old canal locks. These locks were part of the Erie Extension Canal, which closed in 1871. The outside of the cathedral uses red sandstone from Medina, New York. It also has white sandstone trim from Amherst, Ohio, and Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
Tall Towers and Bells
The main bell tower in the center is very tall, reaching about 265 feet (81 meters). There are also two smaller towers on the sides. These are about 150 feet (46 meters) tall and are built in the Norman style.
The central tower holds a chime of twelve bells. These bells were made in 1903 and weigh about 14 tons. A clock was also put in the tower that same year.
Colorful Stained Glass
The church has amazing stained glass windows. The windows in the main worship area, called the sanctuary, and the side sections, called the transept, were made in Germany. They show important Bible stories like the Annunciation and the Birth of Jesus. Other windows show the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension.
There are also large side windows. They show Saint Peter receiving the keys and Jesus having supper with a tax collector. Other windows tell stories from the Life of St. Peter. In the early 1990s, all the stained glass was cleaned and fixed. Special glass pieces were added to make the sunlight shine brighter inside.
The Grand Organ
The cathedral has a large organ that can make many different sounds. It was built in Canada in 1977. More parts were added to it in 1999. This is the third organ the cathedral has had since it was built.
Inside the Church
As you walk through the main part of the church, called the nave, you can see pictures of the diocese's nine bishops. There is also a picture of Auxiliary Bishop Edward Peter McManaman. He was in charge of the cathedral from 1936 to 1948.
The cathedral also has a new baptistery, which is where baptisms take place. The main aisle is made of beautiful Spanish and Italian marble. At the front of the church, you can see a large seal of the Diocese of Erie carved into the marble. It also shows the symbols of different Popes and Bishops.
The sanctuary area is where the altar is located. Underneath the altar is a special box called a reliquary chest. This area also has the Bishop's special chair, called a cathedra, and the pulpit (also known as an ambo) for preaching. The Blessed Sacrament is kept in a special cabinet called a tabernacle.
Cathedral Preparatory School
The all-boys high school, Cathedral Preparatory School, is located right behind the cathedral. This is why it has "Cathedral" in its name. When the school first started, classes were held in rooms within the cathedral itself.
See also
