Cathedral of Saint Peter in Belleville
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Saint Peter is the mother church
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
, located in Belleville, Illinois
.
The cathedral parish
of Saint Peter was founded in 1842 at a location east of the present structure, and named after Saint Barnabas the Apostle
; it was rededicated to Saint Peter
in 1847. By 1863, the need was recognized for a larger structure. A brick church was built on the cathedral's present site, and dedicated in 1866.
In 1887, the Diocese of Belleville had been newly erected, and the church was chosen for consecration as St. Peter's Cathedral. It was, however, nearly destroyed by fire in 1912—only the exterior brick walls remained. The present structure's Gothic architecture
was modeled after that of the Cathedral of Exeter
, England
. The brick walls were covered with Winona
split-face dolomitic limestone
in 1956, and trimmed with Indiana limestone
. A major renovation was undertaken in 1966, as the sanctuary
was remodeled and the south end of the cathedral expanded.
The current seating capacity of the cathedral is 1,270 people, and two organs are located inside.
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern Illinois region of the United States. It comprises the southern counties of the state of Illinois and is administered from the City of Belleville. The prelate is a...
, located in Belleville, Illinois
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
.
The cathedral parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Saint Peter was founded in 1842 at a location east of the present structure, and named after Saint Barnabas the Apostle
Barnabas
Barnabas , born Joseph, was an Early Christian, one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem. In terms of culture and background, he was a Hellenised Jew, specifically a Levite. Named an apostle in , he and Saint Paul undertook missionary journeys together and defended Gentile converts...
; it was rededicated to Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
in 1847. By 1863, the need was recognized for a larger structure. A brick church was built on the cathedral's present site, and dedicated in 1866.
In 1887, the Diocese of Belleville had been newly erected, and the church was chosen for consecration as St. Peter's Cathedral. It was, however, nearly destroyed by fire in 1912—only the exterior brick walls remained. The present structure's Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
was modeled after that of the Cathedral of Exeter
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The brick walls were covered with Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
split-face dolomitic limestone
Dolostone
Dolostone or dolomite rock is a sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite. In old U.S.G.S. publications it was referred to as magnesian limestone. Most dolostone formed as a magnesium replacement of limestone or lime mud prior to lithification. It is...
in 1956, and trimmed with Indiana limestone
Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone, also known as Bedford Limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana between Bloomington and Bedford....
. A major renovation was undertaken in 1966, as the sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
was remodeled and the south end of the cathedral expanded.
The current seating capacity of the cathedral is 1,270 people, and two organs are located inside.