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Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (Savannah, Georgia)

Coordinates: 32°04′24″N 81°05′27″W / 32.07333°N 81.09088°W / 32.07333; -81.09088
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Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Map
Location222 East Harris Street, Lafayette Square, Savannah, Georgia
CountryUnited States
DenominationCatholic Church
WebsiteSavannah Cathedral Website
History
DedicatedApril 30, 1876
Architecture
Architect(s)Ephraim Francis Baldwin
StyleGothic Revival
Administration
DioceseSavannah
Clergy
Bishop(s)Stephen D. Parkes
RectorJ. Gerard Schreck
Deacon(s)Dewain E. Smith
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (Savannah, Georgia) is located in Georgia
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (Savannah, Georgia)
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (Savannah, Georgia) is located in the United States
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (Savannah, Georgia)
Part ofSavannah Historic District (ID66000277)
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1966[1]

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica near Lafayette Square at 222 East Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia, in the United States. It is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.

History

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The colonial charter of Savannah prohibited Roman Catholics from settling in the city, as the English trustees feared that Roman Catholics would be more loyal to the Spanish authorities in Florida than to the English government in Georgia; however, this prohibition faded shortly after the American Revolution.[2] The church's congregation was reorganized about 1796. French Catholic émigrés established the first church after they fled Haiti in 1799, following the outbreak of slave rebellions that began on the Caribbean island in 1791.[3][4] It became the main church for free blacks from Haiti in the early 19th century.[5] Construction began on the new Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in 1873. The structure was nearly destroyed by fire in 1898 but through diligent effort was rebuilt by 1899. The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist was the first building in Georgia constructed of brick. It features 81 stained glass windows, 16 gargoyles, is 214 feet tall with a roof height of 96 feet, took over 90,000 copper nails and 45,000 slates to construct.

The congregation constructed its first church on Liberty Square in 1779 and in 1811, chose a site on Drayton and Perry Streets for a larger building. Bishop John England of the Diocese of Charleston, which encompassed Savannah, consecrated the new church April 1, 1839. Pope Pius IX established the Diocese of Savannah in July 1850. The new Cathedral was planned in 1870 under Savannah's fourth Bishop, The Right Reverend Ignatius Persico. Most Reverend James Roosevelt Bayley, Archbishop of Baltimore, presided at the dedication of the Neo-Gothic sanctuary April 30, 1876.[6] However, the brick structure lacked spires, which were not added until 1896 when it also received a coating of stucco and whitewash.

On February 6, 1898, a fire swept the building and left only the walls and spires, however the congregation quickly rebuilt and was able to celebrate Christmas Mass in the new facility in 1899.[7] Wind direction spared the Cathedral Rectory and St. Vincent's Academy. The renovated structure was not completed fully for an additional 13 years. Stained glass windows were installed around 1904.[8] The parish undertook subsequent renovation projects in 1959–1965, which addressed heating, cooling and lighting systems and decoration; 1984–1985, to reinforce structural foundations and implement changes suggested by the Second Vatican Council and 1998–2000 to install new roofing, and restore the original interior color palette and decorations.[9]

Pope Francis elevated the status of the church to minor basilica in 2020.[10][11]

The minor basilica proclamation outside the church
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  • The cathedral in an undated pre-1914 photo
    The cathedral in an undated pre-1914 photo
  • Historic photo of the rear nave and organ loft
    Historic photo of the rear nave and organ loft
  • Rear nave and organ loft in 2015
    Rear nave and organ loft in 2015
  • Another view of the organ loft, April 2023
    Another view of the organ loft, April 2023
  • A wide view of the entire church, April 2023
    A wide view of the entire church, April 2023
  • High altar and apse
    High altar and apse
  • The altar during after Stations of the Cross on Holy Friday
    The altar during after Stations of the Cross on Holy Friday
  • Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel
    Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel
  • Window and decoration of the south transept
    Window and decoration of the south transept
  • South transept window detail
    South transept window detail
  • Stained glass detail
    Stained glass detail

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "Oglethorpe and Religion in Georgia". Georgia Historical Society. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  3. ^ Haiti. Paris: Dictionnaires Robert. May 27, 2015. p. 918. ISBN 978-2-321-00647-3. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Porter, Michael, ed. (2004). Villages, Ghosts, Lovers....And Red Rice. Xlibris Corporation. p. 100. ISBN 9781465328564. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  5. ^ Kadish, Doris Y., ed. (2000). Slavery in the Caribbean Francophone World: Distant Voices, Forgotten Acts, Forged Identities. University of Georgia Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780820321660. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Discover Historic America Tours". Discover Historic America Tours. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "Not just Notre Dame: Savannah's own cathedral fell victim to deadly fire over 100 years ago". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Discover Historic America Tours". Discover Historic America Tours. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "Church History". Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  10. ^ "Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Named a Minor Basilica by Pope Francis". Diocese of Savannh. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  11. ^ Jan Skutch (April 22, 2020). "Pope designates Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as minor basilica". Savannah Morning News. Savannah. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
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32°04′24″N 81°05′27″W / 32.07333°N 81.09088°W / 32.07333; -81.09088

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