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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Steeple Sunday: Sacred Heart Cathedral

I've been featuring some very impressive steeples that were very tall and grand. Sacred Heart steeple is just slightly taller than the roof. My research on Sacred Heart Cathedral was very interesting. It states, many cathedrals are known for soaring steeples or organs; however, Sacred Heart Cathedral has another distinction:
It is the smallest Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States.
The church was founded in 1924. It has a seating capacity of 320. According to the article in the newspaper, Easter weekend more than 4,200 celebrated one of several Masses either in the sanctuary, the school hall behind the Cathedral or on closed circuit TV at a nearby hotel.
The Cathedral claims 5,871 members, yet it is so small the building has no bathrooms.

Sacred Heart Cathedral sits in the heart of downtown Raleigh on Hillsborough Street. There is no other Catholic Church in downtown Raleigh. I've always admired the front entrance to the church and of course the sturdy stone construction. I've attended a wedding in the church it is lovely inside. The terrazzo flooring has a floral theme and the ceiling is bright blue with inlaid 14-carat gold leaf stars. In 1998 it had a major facelift at the cost of $500,000. Obviously, there is a need for a larger building. A committee has been formed to discuss a new home; however, the it sits on a tiny piece of land with no room for expansion. The church leaders have hired a consulting firm to study the feasiblity of a new cathedral. There are several locations being considered but not in downtown. It sounds as if the plan is for the original Cathedral will remain untouched and that is good news for this historical landmark.

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for telling us
    the history from the Cathedral !!
    Have a happy and relaxing sunday ....

    Hugs for madi from Kareltje =^.^=

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  2. Thank you for all that interesting information on Sacred Heart Cathedral...I like how it is so small, yet is so big in the hearts of so many people!! The steeple is really pretty, but we especially like that front door!! Wow!! Nice pictures!!! Great shooting! So glad you have such lovely weather and blue skies...we hope to see more pictures of your area..so pretty!! Have a nice Sunday! Purrs, Lautrec and Tiny

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  3. Perhaps the moral of that story is that it is not so much the building as the people who make up the Cathedral!
    We loved your pics and are glad to know that so many people use the Cathedral.
    Is the sun always shining when you do your Steeple Sunday posts?
    You get great pictures.
    Have a lovely Sunday
    love
    Martha & Bailey xxx

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  4. That was a great story with beautiful pics, HiC!
    Very fascinating that it's the smallest Catholic Cathedral in the US, yet it has so many members!

    Hope your weather has blown through already and you have a nice Sunday to relax!
    Hugs, Kathy

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  5. Thanks for another wonderful Steeple Sunday story!
    Smileys!
    The Mama and Dory

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  6. I enjoyed that info.
    Um..........no bathroom............HELP ME!!!

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  7. Even if I was Catholic, I couldn't go there with no bathrooms!!!! Very nice story and pics though!

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  8. That is SO beautiful! I can't beleive NO bathrooms! That could be a problem....by the way thanks for the pics....looks like you had a great day! Keep chugging along....ha ha!

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  9. We have been traveling the backroads lately and admiring different towers and steeples. I wish I had taken some pictures.
    Please stop at my blog for news of an exciting contest. Some prizes are good for cats too. Lots for dogs.

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  10. Beautiful cathedral; small but obviously ornate inside!...Hope you all have a happy Sunday...xo...Calle, Halle, Sukki

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  11. Gosh, that IS a tiny church! But gosh, it's really pretty and interesting. I hopes their services aren't very much long since it doesn't have bathrooms!

    Wiggles & Wags,
    Mayzie

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  12. Mama loves your Steeple Sunday posts....but we miss seeing Madi....:) Happy Sunday!!!!!!!!

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  13. So pretty and interesting information. Glad this little lady is safe!

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  14. Lovely cathedral...but with all the kneeling, standing, kneeling, bathroom should be a MUST!
    Happy Sunday Madi, Mom and Birthday Boy!

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  15. Thanks for sharing the pictures and facts about the Sacred Heart Cathedral. It is beautiful.
    Have a great sunday!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  16. Interesting! That's a good looking church!

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  17. That is a tiny church! Very pretty tho. Thanks for the info behind it.

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  18. Hi Madi & Mom,

    That is a beautiful building but it does look tiny. It's good to hear that when they build a new cathedral this one will remain. It has a fascinating history.

    Hope you had a great Sunday,
    Judy and Cindi

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  19. I attended Sacred Heart Elementary and Cathedral Latin High 1959-1962. I am now 73 years old reviewing my life. I feel that the time invested here was the happiest time of my journey. Still remember Father Todd and Sister Ruth de Paul and all the other saintly Dominican sisters.

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