Basilica Shrine of St. Mary (Wilmington, North Carolina)

Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary
Location	Wilmington, North Carolina
Country	United States
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Website	https://www.saintmarybasilica.org
History
Status	Minor Basilica/Parish
Dedication	Mary, mother of Jesus
Dedicated	April 28, 1912
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Rafael Guastavino
Style	Spanish Baroque
Groundbreaking	May 20, 1908
Completed	1912
Specifications
Number of spires	Two
Materials	Brick
Administration
Diocese	Raleigh
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Luis R. Zarama
Vicar(s)	Rev. Cong Le
Pastor(s)	Very Rev. Jairo A. Maldonado-Pacheco
St. Mary's Catholic Church
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
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Location	412 Ann St. Wilmington, North Carolina
Coordinates	34°13′55.9″N77°56′35.9″W / 34.232194°N 77.943306°W / 34.232194; -77.943306
Part of	Wilmington Historic District (ID74001364 [1] )
Added to NRHP	May 6, 1974

The Basilica Shrine of St. Mary is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church located in Wilmington, North Carolina, ^[2] in the Diocese of Raleigh. It was included as a contributing property in the Wilmington Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. ^[3]

Architecture

Inside the Basilica

Its historic main church is of the Spanish Baroque style. It was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino, who is known for his work on the Biltmore Estate, Basilica of St. Lawrence, and Duke Chapel. The church was constructed without wooden or steel beams and without nails, instead using brick tile.

School

The Basilica Shrine of St. Mary also hosts the St. Mary Catholic School. The school hosts children from grades kindergarten to eighth grade. The school was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1869 under the request of Bishop James Gibbons. The school was named Academy of the Incarnation. Another school, for poor girls, called St. Peter's Parochial School for Girls was also created. These schools were later closed. ^[4]

See also

• List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
• List of cathedrals in the United States

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary".
3. "Wilmington Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service . Retrieved March 22, 2017.
4. "History | St. Mary Catholic School, Wilmington, NC". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2014.

External links

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina