History & Significance
Cathedral · Est. Ground broken 1866; dedicated December 8, 1875
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the mother church and cathedral seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, located in the South End neighborhood. Planned under Bishop John Fitzpatrick to serve Boston's rapidly growing Catholic population, ground was broken on the present structure in 1866, and Archbishop John Joseph Williams dedicated the completed cathedral on December 8, 1875. Designed by the prolific church architect Patrick Charles Keely in the Gothic Revival style, it is one of the largest Catholic churches in New England. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Boston and remains an active center of worship and archdiocesan liturgical life.
Gothic Revival, designed by Patrick Charles Keely
- •Cathedral and mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
- •Seat of the Archbishop of Boston
- •Ground broken in 1866; dedicated December 8, 1875 by Archbishop John Joseph Williams
- •Designed by architect Patrick Charles Keely in the Gothic Revival style
- •One of the largest Catholic churches in New England (364 ft long, 120 ft tall)
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