Basilica of St. James (Jamestown, North Dakota)

St. James Catholic Church
Location 622 1st Ave., S. Jamestown, North Dakota
Coordinates 46°54′10″N 98°42′30″W / 46.90278°N 98.70833°WCoordinates: 46°54′10″N 98°42′30″W / 46.90278°N 98.70833°W
Built 1910-1914
Architect George Hancock
Architectural style Late Gothic Revival
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 82001346[1]
Added to NRHP October 22, 1982

The Basilica of St. James is a parish church in the Diocese of Fargo as well as a minor basilica located in the Jamestown, North Dakota, United States. It served briefly as a cathedral in the 19th century. St. James Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

History

Catholics settled in the Jamestown area as early as 1872 and a parish was established later in the decade.[2] The first Catholic church in Jamestown was dedicated by Bishop Martin Marty, OSB on May 13, 1883.

On November 10, 1889 Pope Leo XIII established the Diocese of Jamestown[3] and St. James became the cathedral church for the new diocese. This distinction was short lived as the See City was transferred to Fargo on April 6, 1897. Bishop John Shanley was the only bishop to call St. James his cathedral.

Bishop James O'Reilly consecrated the present church on November 29, 1914.[2] On October 26, 1988 Pope John Paul II elevated St. James Church to the rank of a minor basilica.[4]

Architecture

George Hancock designed the church in the Gothic Revival style. The foundation is rock faced, trimmed granite. The exterior walls are covered in Hebron brick and they are trimmed in Bedford stone. The building measures 140 feet (43 m) long, 50 feet (15 m) wide and 42 feet (13 m) high.[2] The transept is 70 feet (21 m) wide. The seating capacity of the church is 650 with another 100 able to fit in the choir loft.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Our History". Basilica of St. James Catholic Church. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  3. ↑ "Diocese of Fargo". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  4. ↑ "Basilica of St. James". GCatholic. Retrieved 2011-10-17.

External links