Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception

History & Significance

Cathedral · Est. Completed 1889 (parish founded 1846; cornerstone laid 1885)

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois, traces its parish roots to 1846 and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Peoria, erected in 1875 under first bishop John Lancaster Spalding. The present Gothic Revival cathedral, designed by architect Casper Mehler to evoke New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, was completed in 1889. In 2019 the remains of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen were transferred from New York and entombed at a side altar within the cathedral.

Gothic Revival stone church with twin spires, of Anamosa limestone

• •Seat (cathedral) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria, erected 1875
• •Present Gothic Revival building completed in 1889; designed by Chicago/Peoria architect Casper Mehler
• •Parish of St. Mary organized in 1846; first bishop was John Lancaster Spalding (installed 1877)
• •Remains of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen entombed here since June 27, 2019
• •A contributing property in the North Side Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983