Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver
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The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a cathedral serving Roman Catholics in Denver, Colorado. It is located at the corner of Logan St. and Colfax Avenue in the North Capitol Hill neighborhood in central Denver. It is the home to the Archdiocese of Denver, and holds three daily masses and six Sunday masses, with a capacity of 800.[1] It also serves the community, giving between 50,000 and 60,000 lunches to the poor every year.[2]
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[edit] History
Construction of the cathedral started in 1902, but was not completed until 1911, with a final cost of approximately $500,000. Its inaugural Mass was held on October 27, 1912, and it was consecrated in 1921.[2] The cathedral was raised to a minor basilica on Christmas of 1979, one of only 29 American cathedrals with that title.[3] On August 13, and 14 1993 for World Youth Day, Pope John Paul II, held mass at the cathedral, one of only a few cathedrals in the United States to hold that honor. The church's spires were struck by lightning in 1912 and 1997, each time causing damage that had to be repaired.[2]
[edit] Architecture
The cathedral's architect was Leon Coquard of Detroit, who designed the cathedral in a French Gothic style.[3] The building features two 210-foot spires,[1] and is made of limestone from Indiana, and granite from Gunnison, Colorado. The altar, statuary, and bishop's chair are all made of marble from Carrara, Italy, and the 75 stained glass windows are from the F.X. Zetter's Royal Bavarian Institute in Munich.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Architectural Highlights" at denvercathedral.org. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ a b c d Cathedral history at denvercathedral.org. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ a b Archdiocese of Denver. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
