Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Kansas City, Missouri)
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception | |
Location | 416 W. 12th Street Kansas City, Missouri |
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Coordinates | 39°6′3″N 94°35′21″W / 39.10083°N 94.58917°W |
Built | 1882–1883 |
Part of | Quality Hill, Kansas City (ID78001657[1]) |
Added to NRHP | July 7, 1978 |
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a
History
The Rev. Benedict Roux arrived in Kansas City in 1833. Two years later he built a church out of logs at Eleventh and Broadway that was named St. John Francis Regis.[2] From 1845 to 1880 the parish was served by the Rev. Bernard Donnelly who was a circuit-riding priest. He had a brick church built in 1857 that was named Immaculate Conception.
The Diocese of Kansas City was established by Pope Leo XIII in 1880.[3] Bishop John Joseph Hogan selected Immaculate Conception as the cathedral for the new diocese and laid the cornerstone for the present cathedral in 1882. While the interior of the building was incomplete and temporary windows filled the spaces, the first Mass in the church was celebrated on Trinity Sunday in 1883. The Cathedral was built on the highest ground of the city and at 150 feet (37.6 m) it was the tallest structure in Kansas City at the time.[2] During the early years, the parish sold tickets to allowing residents to climb the steps in the tower to see the view.
A carillon of eleven bells was placed in the tower in 1895. The bells are named after the following saints: St. Anna, St. Bernard, St. Catherine, St. Cecilia, St. Edward, St. Elizabeth, St. Helen, St. John, St. Mary and St. Thomas. The largest bell, St. Thomas, is rung more than the others.[2] The stained glass windows, created by local artisans at the Kansas City Stained Glass Works Company, were installed in 1912. The windows depict various Biblical scenes and the life of Christ. From 1903 to 1945 the Cathedral operated St. Christopher's Inn, on Main Street, a Single Room Occupancy facility for homeless men.
Bishop
The copper dome on the cathedral tower started to deteriorate. It was replaced by a new dome, cupola and cross covered in 23-carat gold leaf in an effort led by Bishop John Cody in 1960. A diocesan capital campaign, Gift of Faith, began in 2001 to provide necessary funds for another major renovation and restoration of the cathedral. Bishop Raymond J. Boland dedicated the renewed cathedral on February 23, 2003.
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c "History of the Cathedral". Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
- ^ a b "Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved September 11, 2011.