Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

History & Significance

Basilica · Est. Parish erected 1866; present church dedicated December 1897

Sacred Heart Parish was erected on August 1, 1866 by Bishop Richard Vincent Whelan of Wheeling, and the present Romanesque Revival limestone church (architect H.B. Lowe) was built 1895-1897, with its first Mass on Christmas 1897. On October 4, 1974, Pope Paul VI designated Sacred Heart a co-cathedral when the Diocese of Wheeling was renamed the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. On November 9, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI raised the church to the dignity of a minor basilica. It serves as a co-seat of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, shared with the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling.

Romanesque Revival, built of limestone (architect H.B. Lowe)

• •Co-cathedral seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, shared with the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling
• •Parish erected August 1, 1866 by Bishop Richard Vincent Whelan
• •Present church built 1895-1897; first Mass offered Christmas 1897
• •Designated co-cathedral October 4, 1974 by Pope Paul VI
• •Raised to minor basilica November 9, 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI