St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus
Encyclopedia
St. Joseph Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral
located in Columbus, Ohio
, United States
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Columbus
.
, began to plan for a new church. He raised money and formed a building committee. Property was secured on Broad Street and Fifth for $13,500. The name St. Joseph was chosen by a committee for the new church, and Michael Harding was chosen as the architect. The foundation was staked out on June 6, 1866 and the contractor, John McCabe, began to excavate the site. John Stoddard was hired to do the masonry work. The first cornerstone
was laid on November 11, 1866 by Auxiliary Bishop
Sylvester H. Rosecrans
of Cincinnati
.
In 1867 Father Fitzgerald was named Bishop of Little Rock
and Bishop Rosecrans was named pastor of St. Patrick’s. On March 3, 1868 Pope Pius IX
established the Diocese of Columbus and named Bishop Rosecrans as its first bishop. It was decided that St. Joseph’s would become the cathedral for the new diocese.
Robert T. Brookes succeeded Harding as architect and changes were made to the original design. Because the building would now be constructed of stone instead of brick, the foundation walls were torn down and new ones built. Retired General William Rosecrans
, older brother of Bishop Rosecrans, came to Columbus and assisted with some of the design plans in the summer of 1870.
The first Mass in the cathedral was celebrated by Bishop Rosecrans on Christmas 1872. A high altar and side altars, with marble donated by Cardinal John McCloskey of New York
, was installed soon after. The marble was from the same quarry used in the construction of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
. In 1873 the home of Joseph Gundersheimer was purchased to house the clergy, and it served that purpose until a rectory
attached to the cathedral could be built. Even though the building was not completed it was consecrated by Bishop Rosecrans on October 20, 1878.
and Fairfield
counties. The exterior walls of the building are 185 feet (56.4m) long and 92 feet (28 m) wide. The walls are three feet (.9 m) thick. There are three entrances off Broad Street and one off of Fifth Street.
The main façade
of the cathedral was to be framed by two bell towers. The southwest tower was to rise to a height of 312 feet (95 m) and contain three clock faces and a chime of ten bells. The southeast tower was to reach a height of 200 feet (61 m). Neither tower has been completed.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
located in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Columbus
Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus is a Roman Catholic diocese in the Ecclesiastical Province of Cincinnati covering 23 counties in Ohio. The episcopal see of the diocese is situated at Columbus, Ohio. The diocese was erected on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX out of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati...
.
History
St. Joseph Parish was founded from St. Patrick’s Parish in Columbus in 1866. St. Patrick’s had become overcrowded and its pastor, the Rev. Edward M. FitzgeraldEdward Fitzgerald (bishop)
Edward Mary Fitzgerald was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Little Rock from 1867 until his death in 1907.-Biography:...
, began to plan for a new church. He raised money and formed a building committee. Property was secured on Broad Street and Fifth for $13,500. The name St. Joseph was chosen by a committee for the new church, and Michael Harding was chosen as the architect. The foundation was staked out on June 6, 1866 and the contractor, John McCabe, began to excavate the site. John Stoddard was hired to do the masonry work. The first cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
was laid on November 11, 1866 by Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
Sylvester H. Rosecrans
Sylvester Horton Rosecrans
Sylvester Horton Rosecrans was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Columbus from 1868 until his death in 1878.-Biography:...
of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
.
In 1867 Father Fitzgerald was named Bishop of Little Rock
Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock is a Roman Catholic diocese in Arkansas. It was founded on November 28, 1843.-History:A dozen Catholic priests accompanied Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto down the Mississippi River in 1541 to a Quapaw Indian village near present-day Helena-West Helena,...
and Bishop Rosecrans was named pastor of St. Patrick’s. On March 3, 1868 Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
established the Diocese of Columbus and named Bishop Rosecrans as its first bishop. It was decided that St. Joseph’s would become the cathedral for the new diocese.
Robert T. Brookes succeeded Harding as architect and changes were made to the original design. Because the building would now be constructed of stone instead of brick, the foundation walls were torn down and new ones built. Retired General William Rosecrans
William Rosecrans
William Starke Rosecrans was an inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician, and United States Army officer. He gained fame for his role as a Union general during the American Civil War...
, older brother of Bishop Rosecrans, came to Columbus and assisted with some of the design plans in the summer of 1870.
The first Mass in the cathedral was celebrated by Bishop Rosecrans on Christmas 1872. A high altar and side altars, with marble donated by Cardinal John McCloskey of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
, was installed soon after. The marble was from the same quarry used in the construction of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
. In 1873 the home of Joseph Gundersheimer was purchased to house the clergy, and it served that purpose until a rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
attached to the cathedral could be built. Even though the building was not completed it was consecrated by Bishop Rosecrans on October 20, 1878.
Architecture
St. Joseph Cathedral was designed in the Gothic Revival style and built of ashlar stone that was quarried in LickingLicking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
and Fairfield
Fairfield County, Ohio
Fairfield County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 146,156. Its county seat is Lancaster. Its name is a reference to the Fairfield area of the original Lancaster....
counties. The exterior walls of the building are 185 feet (56.4m) long and 92 feet (28 m) wide. The walls are three feet (.9 m) thick. There are three entrances off Broad Street and one off of Fifth Street.
The main façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
of the cathedral was to be framed by two bell towers. The southwest tower was to rise to a height of 312 feet (95 m) and contain three clock faces and a chime of ten bells. The southeast tower was to reach a height of 200 feet (61 m). Neither tower has been completed.