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Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota)

Coordinates: 44°56′49″N 93°06′32″W / 44.94694°N 93.10889°W / 44.94694; -93.10889
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Cathedral of Saint Paul
National Shrine of the Apostle Paul
Map
44°56′49″N 93°06′32″W / 44.94694°N 93.10889°W / 44.94694; -93.10889
Location239 Selby Ave,
Saint Paul, Minnesota
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitecathedralsaintpaul.org
History
StatusCathedral, national shrine
Consecrated1958
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Previous cathedrals
Architect(s)Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
StyleBeaux-Arts architecture
Years built1906–1915
Specifications
Capacity3,000
Length307 feet (94 m)
Width216 feet (66 m)
Height306.5 feet (93.4 m)
Dome height (inner)175 feet (53 m)
Dome diameter (outer)120 feet (37 m)
Dome diameter (inner)96 feet (29 m)
Number of towers2
Tower height150 feet (46 m)
Clergy
ArchbishopBernard Hebda
RectorJoseph Johnson
Laity
Director of musicLawrence Lawyer
Organist(s)Chris Ganza
SacristanGreg Povolny
St. Paul Cathedral-Catholic
Built1906–1915
ArchitectEmmanuel Louis Masqueray; Whitney Warren
Architectural styleClassical Revival
Part ofHistoric Hill District (ID76001067)
NRHP reference No.74001039[1]
Added to NRHPJune 28, 1974

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is the co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, along with the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. One of the most distinctive cathedrals in the United States[according to whom?], it sits on Cathedral Hill overlooking downtown Saint Paul and features a distinctive copper-clad dome. It is dedicated to Paul the Apostle, who is also the namesake of the City of Saint Paul. The current building opened in 1915 as the fourth cathedral of the archdiocese to bear this name. On March 25, 2009, it was designated as the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is the third-largest Catholic cathedral and sixth-largest church in the United States.[2]

History

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Background

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Main articles: First Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota), Second Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota), and Third Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota)

The first church building in what became the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis was a small log chapel built at the urging of Father Lucien Galtier. He came to the area when the settlement was still known as "Pig's Eye" (after Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant). The chapel, measuring 25 feet (7.6 m) by 18 feet (5.5 m), was dedicated on November 1, 1841. Father Augustin Ravoux later enlarged the structure, and when Joseph Crétin was appointed as the bishop of the newly established Diocese of St. Paul in July 1851, the log chapel became the first cathedral. Crétin immediately started to build a larger church to serve the fast-growing population of St. Paul. The second church building had three stories, with a library, kitchen, and school facilities on the first floor; the church itself on the second floor; and offices and living quarters for Crétin and his staff. The second building still proved to be too small for the needs of the diocese, so he started plans for a third cathedral in 1853. Construction of the building, at the corner of St. Peter and Sixth Streets in Downtown St. Paul, started in 1854 and was completed in 1858, having been delayed by the Panic of 1857 and Crétin's death. The third cathedral was built of stone, measured 175 feet (53 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide, but had practically no ornamentation in an effort to cut costs. Thomas Grace was the bishop at the time the cathedral was completed.[3] The third cathedral rapidly became outdated with the rapid growth of Catholics in the area.[4]: 372 

Planning

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The Kittson mansion, demolished to make way for the cathedral

When the Diocese of Saint Paul was elevated to an archiepiscopal see in 1888, the necessity for a new cathedral became all the more apparent. A search began for a location for a new cathedral, outside of the business district of downtown St. Paul where the third cathedral resides. There was a desire for the cathedral to be built closer to Minneapolis, with sites being considered near the College of Saint Thomas, the Midway neighborhood, and at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Victoria Street.[a] On April 9, 1904, a property on the brow of St. Anthony Hill was purchased for $52,500 ($1.84 million in 2024). The location was occupied by the deteriorating mansion of entrepreneur Norman Kittson.[4]: 373  The site was too small for the planned edifice, and so land south of Summit Avenue was purchased, requiring the movement of the street by 90 feet.[4]: 376 

Fundraising began immediately, with pledges made by March 1906 totaling $435,200 ($15.2 million in 2024). Fundraising efforts included a picnic on the Minnesota State Fair grounds.[4]: 375 

Interior of the cathedral

Architect

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At Ireland's direction, the archdiocese commissioned well-known French Beaux-Arts architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, who was also the chief architect of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.[3][4]: 374 

Construction

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The cornerstone for the cathedral was laid on June 2, 1907. Within the cornerstone was placed a copper time capsule box containing contemporary newspapers, souvenirs, and a parchment written on in Latin describing the details of the ceremony.[4]: 377  Pope Pius X and President Theodore Roosevelt sent congratulatory telegrams which were read aloud, and Mayor Robert A. Smith, Governor John Albert Johnson, and Senator Moses E. Clapp read speeches. The First Artillery of the Minnesota National Guard fired a salute, followed by the singing of the Te Deum by seminarians.[4]: 378 

Dedication and consecration

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The first Mass in the cathedral was held on March 15, 1915, Palm Sunday. While yet unfinished, the cathedral hosted over 2,500 people for the 6 a.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Ireland.[4]: 380  The doors to the cathedral had been installed only the day before. Ornamentation was bare; there were no stained-glass windows, no balcachin, and no statues. Nonetheless, Masses were held on the hour from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and some 18,000 total were estimated to have attended that day.[5] Ireland wept as he saw the crowds who attended.[6] At the 10 a.m., which auxiliary bishop John Jeremiah Lawler celebrated, Ireland preached and called the new building a "a great, a noble edifice" and "supreme monument" to the faith of the people who had donated to build it. [5] A formal dedication took place several weeks later on April 11.[4]: 380 

The building was not considered substantially complete, and thus eligible for solemn consecration, until 1958.[1] Archbishop William O. Brady consecrated the building on October 14, 1958, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a solemn high Mass at 5:15 p.m.[7] Bishop Francis J. Schenk, at the time ordinary of the Diocese of Crookston and one-time rector of the cathedral, preached the sermon.[8] The unconventional Tuesday date was chosen at there was a reunion the following day at the nearby Saint Paul Seminary.[7]

The original copper roof with green patina, replaced in 2002

Renovation

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In 2001, construction began to completely replace the 60,000-square-foot copper roof to make it more weather-resistant. Forty-two miles of tuck pointing on the cathedral granite was done at the same time, as well as sand-blasting to clean the exterior.[9] Water leaks had been threatening interior art. The 85-year-old roof had only been projected to last 50 years.[10]The project was completed in 2002, at a cost of $32 million.[11] The previously green patina became a brown.[12]

Structure

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Masqueray's open design allows visitors unobstructed views of the altar and pulpit. Masqueray died in 1917, having completed only a few designs for the interior, which included three of the cathedral's major chapels: Saint Peter's, Saint Joseph's and the Blessed Virgin Mary's.[13]

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is also a contributing property to the Historic Hill District.[14][1]

A early floor plan of the cathedral from 1908

Design

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The cathedral is built in a "Classical Renaissance" architectural style, and is in a Greek Cross design.[4]: 381  The dome of the cathedral is 76 feet (23 m) in diameter and 186 feet (57 m) high. Warm-colored paint and gold leaf were added during a major renovation of the dome in the 1950s. The exterior walls of the cathedral are Rockville granite from St. Cloud, Minnesota (from the Clark quarry[15]). The interior walls are American Travertine from Mankato, Minnesota. The interior columns are made of several types of marble.

The interior was designed to make visitors feel as if they are in a boat, with the Latin word for the area where the congregation sits, nave, meaning "boat"; a sunburst chandelier hangs overhead, and waves are carved into the walls and the pews.[16]: 9–10 

The interior dome and interior mosaics of the four cardinal virtues beneath the dome were created by Joseph Capecchi, a Florentine sculptor. The designs for the mosaics were sent to Italy to be crafted by Michelangelo Bedini [it].[17]

The east façade

Exterior façade

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Carved in granite above the main doors and primary rose window of the cathedral are Christ and the eleven apostles, with the words "Euntes docete omnes gentes", or "Go, therefore, to all nations" from Matthew 28. On either side of the frieze are carved figures of St. Peter and St. Paul. Beneath the rose window are two angels bearing the words "Erat lux vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum," or "He was the true light that enlightens every man who comes into this world" from John 1:9.[16]: 22 

The Temperance mosaic

Art

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The interior is illuminated by twenty-four stained glass windows featuring angelic choirs. Three rose windows in the transepts were designed by Charles Connick.[1]

Heroic size marble statues of the four evangelists, sculpted by John Angel, are set into the niches of the piers in the four corners of the church. This placement was not coincidental, according to Msgr. Lawrence Ryan (Historical Sketch of the Cathedral of St. Paul, 1904–1937), for as the piers hold up the church of stone, so the Word recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John sustains that Church not made by human hands. Each statue rises to a height of 11'6" and weighs eight tons. The life of Saint Paul is honored by a bronze baldachin, as well as massive bronze Te Deum and Magnificat grilles.[18]

Chapels

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The cathedral also has six chapels dedicated to the patron saints of the European ethnic groups that settled the area around the city: St. Anthony for the Italians, St. John the Baptist for the French Canadians, St. Patrick for the Irish, St. Boniface for the Germans, Saints Cyril and Methodius for the Slavs; and St. Therese of Lisieux for the missionaries.[18] Each shrine contains a circular slab of marble from the saint's home country.[19] The Chapel to the Little Flower has incorporated into its gospel-side wall small stone from the Rouen Castle where St. Joan of Arc was imprisoned.[4]: 381  There are also chapels dedicated to the Sacred Heart, to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to Saint Joseph, her husband, as well as to Saint Peter.

Rear organ case

Organs

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An E. M. Skinner organ was installed above the entrance to the sacristy, behind the behind the sanctuary, in 1927. An Æolian-Skinner organ was installed in the choir loft gallery in 1963.[20][21] The organs have twin consoles, which can be used to play either organ or both at the same time.[21]

A restoration of the sanctuary organ by Quimby Pipe Organs took place in 2013 In conjunction with the restoration, a new organ case for the gallery organ was completed by architect Duncan G Stroik.[20] The design was based on a blueprint from the original design of the cathedral by Emmanuel Masqueray.[22] The hand-carved walnut organ case preserves the view of the cathedral's rose window.[23] Human-sized carved angels stand on both sides of the organ case and a statue of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music, stands on top of the central organ case dome, directly below the rose window.[24][20] In commemoration of the restoration, Olivier Latry of Notre-Dame de Paris performed at the cathedral on October 24, 2013.[22] The project cost $3.4 million.[21][23]

Bells

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For the first seventy years of the cathedral's operations, a small bell from the previous cathedral had been the only bell. Under the direction of Ambrose Hayden, five new bronze bells were installed in the cathedral towers in 1986, to ring in time for Christmas Eve midnight Mass. The $140,000 ($401,597 in 2024) cost was paid for by parishioners. The bells were cast in France by Fonderie Paccard.[25]

Notable events

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Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, who would become Pope Pius XII in 1939, visited the United States in October 1936, with one of his stops being in St. Paul. Pacelli, then the papal secretary of state, celebrated 7:45 a.m. Mass on October 27 at the cathedral.[26] A bronze plaque commemorating the visit was installed in 1946.[27]

As part of a "whirlwind", 21-hour tour of Minnesota,[28] President John F. Kennedy attended the 11 o'clock Mass at the Cathedral on October 7, 1962.[29] A special phone line with direct service to the White House was installed for the occasion.[30] Around 8,000 people crowded in and around the cathedral on the rainy day, with 6,000 inside the building and another 2,000 outside.[29][30] Many attendees sat through 8 a.m., 9 a.m., and 10 a.m. Masses to see Kennedy. Bishop Gerald Francis O'Keefe preached on the importance of the upcoming Second Vatican Council.[30] A plaque commemorates the pew where Kennedy sat.[31]

In 1974, a vandal set fire to the basement of the cathedral, causing smoke damage in the church.[32] During a 1974 Christmas midnight Mass celebrated by Msgr. Ambrose Hayden, two streakers ran through the cathedral.[33]

On March 25, 2009, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops declared the Cathedral of Saint Paul to be a National Shrine to the Apostle Paul – the first in Minnesota and the only one in North America dedicated to the Apostle Paul.[34] A stone relic from the tomb of St. Paul was given to the cathedral in 2012.[35][36]

After the killing of Philando Castile, Castile's family, though Baptist, requested that his funeral be able to be held at the cathedral.[37] Archbishop Bernard Hebda granted the request, and on July 14, 2016, a funeral service for Philando Castile took place at the cathedral, attended by thousands of mourners.[38]

For seven years, the cathedral hosted the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition.[39] The 500-yard, 12-story ramp brought up to 120,000 spectators to the neighborhood to watch the race skating event.[40][41] Red Bull paid an undisclosed, but "generous" donation to the cathedral for hosting the event.[42] After the 2018 season, Red Bull chose to move the event to Japan, Finland and Boston.[41]

Rectors

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  • J. Lawler (1915–May 1916)[4]: 582 
  • T. J. Gibbons (May 1916–July 1916)[4]: 582 
  • L. F. Ryan (July 1916–1940)[4]: 582 
  • J. J. Cullinan (1940–1942)[4]: 582 
  • Francis J. Schenk (1942–1945)[4]: 582 
  • George E. Ryan (1945–?)[4]: 582 
  • Gerald Francis O'Keefe (1961–1967)
  • Ambrose Hayden (1967–1993)[43]
  • John Estrem (1993–2004)[44][45]
  • Michael C. Skluzacek (2004–2006)[46]
  • Joseph Johnson (2006–2012)[47]
  • John Ubel (2012–2024)[47]
  • Joseph Johnson (2024–present)[48]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The current location of Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ "6 Largest Churches in the U.S." Travel Trivia. October 14, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Alan K. Lathrop (2003). Churches Of Minnesota: An Illustrated Guide. University of Minnesota Press. pp. 165–166. ISBN 0816629099.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Reardon, James Michael (1952). The Catholic Church in the Diocese of St. Paul : from earliest origin to centennial achievement : a factual narrative. Saint Paul, Minnesota: North Central Publishing Company.
  5. ^ a b Zyskowski, Bob (February 25, 2015). "'It is your home'" (PDF). The Catholic Spirit. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  6. ^ Walsh, James (March 29, 2015). "At 100, St. Paul Cathedral is full of community". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Blodgett, Timothy (October 14, 1958). "Cathedral Rite to Draw 11 Bishops". The Minneapolis Star. p. 20. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  8. ^ "Saint Paul Cathedral Consecrated". The Minneapolis Star. October 15, 1958. p. 52. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "Cathedral to kickoff remodeling with blessing ceremony" (PDF). March 8, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  10. ^ Hrbacek, Dave (December 7, 2000). "Cathedral begins repairs on roof, facade" (PDF). Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  11. ^ Brown, Curt (September 13, 2002). "St. Paul Cathedral 'a work of art'". Star Tribune. pp. B1, B. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  12. ^ Brown, Curt (April 27, 2002). "Cathedral roof is on (patina pending)". Star Tribune. pp. B3. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  13. ^ History, Cathedral of Saint Paul.
  14. ^ "Historic Hill District". Minnesota National Register Properties Database. Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  15. ^ "History 1". The city of Cold Spring. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
  16. ^ a b Boyle, Dia (2008). Stone and Glass: The Meaning of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. St. Paul, Minn. ISBN 9780962576522. Retrieved April 28, 2025.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. ^ Eler, Alicia (December 14, 2023). "The St. Paul cathedral that Capecchi helped build". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Ernster, Barb (June 14, 2010). "Cathedral Is Catechism in Stone and Glass". National Catholic Register. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  19. ^ Nelson, Paul (December 3, 2021). "Cathedral of St. Paul". www.mnopedia.org. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c Towalski, Diane (March 14, 2013). "Cathedral organ restoration nearly complete" (PDF). The Catholic Spirit. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c Duchschere, Kevin (October 24, 2013). "Cathedral's restored organs are noteworthy". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  22. ^ a b Towalski, Diane (November 7, 2013). "Cathedral pulls out all the stops for pipe organs' inaugural concert" (PDF). The Catholic Spirit. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  23. ^ a b Olson, Dan (March 1, 2013). "Cathedral of St. Paul's new, mighty pipe organ: Minnesota Sounds and Voices". MPR News. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  24. ^ Bickael, Jim (June 28, 2013). "St. Paul Cathedral organ gets a tune up". MPR News. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  25. ^ Benidt, Bruce (December 19, 1986). "St. Paul residents will hear the bells on Christmas Eve". Star Tribune. pp. 1B, 2B. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  26. ^ Ames, Clair E (March 3, 1939). "New Pope's Visit to Twin Cities Recalled". The Minneapolis Journal. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  27. ^ "Plaques Commemorate Pope's Visit to U.S." The Catholic Northwest Progress. November 8, 1946. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  28. ^ "JFK Starts Whirlwind Minnesota Tour Today". The Forum. Moorhead, MN. Associated Press. October 6, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  29. ^ a b Letofsky, Irvin (October 8, 1962). "Cathedral Aisles Bulge as President Attends Mass". St. Paul Pioneer Press. No. Vo. 114, No. 163. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  30. ^ a b c Mazie, David (October 8, 1962). "Rain Cancels JFK Talk in St. Cloud". Star Tribune. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Riekens, Greg (February 19, 2018). "John F Kennedy Was Here". Flickr. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  32. ^ Nelson, Tim (January 24, 2015). "Cathedral of St. Paul celebrates centennial". MPR News. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  33. ^ "Streakers Interrupt Mass at St. Paul". Post-Bulletin. Associated Press. December 26, 1974. p. 4. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  34. ^ Wiering, Maria (June 18, 2009). "New shrine for the nation" (PDF). The Catholic Spirit. pp. 1A, 9A. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  35. ^ Miller, Pamela (May 11, 2012). "Relic from tomb of apostle St. Paul is coming to namesake cathedral". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  36. ^ Monteiro de Castro, Emmanuel (March 15, 2012). "Paenitentiaria Apostolica Prot. N. 127/12/I" (Document). Apostolic Penitentiary.
  37. ^ O'Loughlin, Michael (July 12, 2016). "Twin Cities Cathedral to host funeral for Philando Castile". America Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  38. ^ Louwagie, Pam; Van Berkel, Jessie (July 15, 2016). "Thousands pay tribute to Castile: 'His death is not in vain'". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  39. ^ "Red Bull Crashed Ice Championship Moves On From St. Paul". Visit Saint Paul. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  40. ^ Nelson, Tim (January 21, 2015). "'Crashed,' bashed and cashed: St. Paul embraces extreme ice racing". MPR News. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  41. ^ a b Sawyer, Liz (October 11, 2018). "Red Bull Crashed Ice gives St. Paul the slip". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  42. ^ Chin, Richard (February 26, 2016). "Crashed Ice is also creating fans for Cathedral of St. Paul". Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  43. ^ Zyskowski, Bob (September 16, 1993). "After 49 years as priest, 26 at Cathedral, Mqnsignor Ambrose Hayden will retire" (PDF). The Catholic Bulletin. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  44. ^ Fitzgerald, Michael (November 25, 1993). "New rector for Cathedral". The Catholic Bulletin.
  45. ^ "Father Skluzacek excited to serve as rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul". The Catholic Spirit. February 12, 2004. pp. 3, 18.
  46. ^ Carroll, Julie (May 25, 2006). "Coming soon: One of Cathedral's youngest rectors". The Catholic Spirit.
  47. ^ a b Carroll, Julie (May 10, 2012). "New appointments include Father Ubel as Cathedral rector". The Catholic Spirit.
  48. ^ Will, Carolyn (July 11, 2024). "June/July 2024 Newsletter". Cathedral Heritage Foundation.
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