St. Benedict Cathedral (Evansville, Indiana)

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St. Benedict Cathedral
St. Benedict Cathedral - Evansville, Indiana 01.jpg
St. Benedict Cathedral (Evansville, Indiana)
Location1320 Lincoln Ave.
Evansville, Indiana
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic Church
Website www.saintbenedictcathedral.org
History
Status Cathedral/Parish
Founded1912 (parish)
Dedication Benedict of Nursia
DedicatedMarch 18, 1928
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s) Edward J. Thole (Cathedral)
Style Lombard-Basilica
Completed1928
Construction cost$230,000
Specifications
Capacity1,000 [1]
Number of spires One
Spire height130 feet (40 m) [2]
Materials Brick
Administration
Diocese Evansville
Clergy
Bishop(s) Most Rev. Joseph M. Siegel
Rector Rev. Godfrey Mullen, OSB
St. Benedict's Catholic Church, Rectory, and School
USA Indiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Coordinates 37°58′12″N87°32′26.16″W / 37.97000°N 87.5406000°W / 37.97000; -87.5406000
ArchitectFrank J. Schlotter (school)
August Gehlhausen (rectory)
Part of Lincolnshire Historic District (ID89001426 [3] )
Added to NRHPOctober 2, 1989

St. Benedict Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Evansville, Indiana, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Evansville. The cathedral, rectory and original school building are contributing properties in the Lincolnshire Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Contents

History

St. Benedict Parish

Original parish building St. Benedict Cathedral - Evansville, Indiana 10.jpg
Original parish building
Cathedral interior St. Benedict Cathedral interior - Evansville, Indiana 01.jpg
Cathedral interior

St. Benedict Parish was established in 1912 to take care of the Catholics who lived east of the downtown area. The pastoral care for the parish was given to Benedictine Monks from St. Meinrad Abbey. [4] A two-story brick building was constructed to serve as a combination church and school. It was designed by local architect Frank J. Schlotter in the Neoclassical style. [2] It was built by local contractor, and parishioner, Michael J. Hoffman. An assembly hall was located in the basement, classrooms were located on the first floor, and the church sanctuary was on the second floor. After the present church building was completed in 1928, the second floor was converted into classroom space. A Modern movement addition was completed in 1953.

A two-story, brick, American Foursquare convent was built for the teaching sisters in 1913. A rectory for the resident clergy was completed in 1921 for $25,000. [2] The two-story brick structure was designed by August Gehlhausen in the Colonial Revival style. It features a two-story, full length, front porch.

The present church building was completed in 1928 in the Lombard-Basilica style. [1] It was designed by local architect Edward J. Thole of the architectural firm of Thole & Legeman. Parishioner Michael Hoffman again served as the contractor. The church features ceilings that are 65 feet (20 m) high, a baldachin over the altar and a seating capacity of over 1,000 people. [1] Zettler Art Glass Company of Munich, Germany produced the stained glass windows. The altars are composed of Italian marble. The campanile rises 130 feet (40 m). [2] The church was dedicated on March 18, 1928, by Abbot Athanasius Schmidt, OSB. [4]

The interior of the church was renovated after the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The baldachin was moved forward about 25 feet (8 m) and the former high altar was dismantled and a new altar was created. Two of Evansville's bishops were ordained and installed in St. Benedict's before it became a cathedral; Francis R. Shea in 1970 and Gerald A. Gettelfinger on April 11, 1989. [4]

St. Benedict Cathedral

On October 21, 1944, Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Evansville. [5] Assumption Church, Evansville's oldest Catholic parish, was chosen as the first cathedral. The property was sold to the city of Evansville who demolished it in 1965 for the new civic center. Holy Trinity, Evansville's second-oldest parish, served as the Proto-cathedral from 1965 to April 11, 1999, when St. Benedict's was consecrated as the third cathedral for the Evansville Diocese. [4]

Pastors/Rectors

The following priests have served as pastor of St. Benedict Parish. Since 1999 they have also served as cathedral rector: [4]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Parish History". Historic Evansville. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Joan C. Marchand. "Lincolnshire Historic District". National Park Service . Retrieved November 20, 2014. with photos
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cathedrals of the Diocese of Evansville". Diocese of Evansville. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  5. "Diocese of Evansville". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved September 26, 2011.