Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Santa Fe)

Cathedral Basilica of
St. Francis of Assisi
Map
LocationSanta Fe, New Mexico
CountryUnited States
DenominationCatholic
Websitewww.cbsfa.org
History
StatusCathedral/Parish
Founded1714 (parish)
DedicationSt. Francis of Assisi
Dedicated1887
Architecture
Functional statusActive
StyleRomanesque Revival
Years built1869–1887
Administration
ArchdioceseSanta Fe
Clergy
ArchbishopMost Rev. John Wester
RectorVery Rev. John D. Cannon
St. Francis Cathedral
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Santa Fe) is located in New Mexico
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Santa Fe)
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Santa Fe) is located in the United States
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Santa Fe)
Location131 Cathedral Place
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Coordinates35°41′11.4″N 105°56′10.68″W / 35.686500°N 105.9363000°W / 35.686500; -105.9363000
Part ofSanta Fe Historic District (ID73001150[1])
Added to NRHPJuly 23, 1973

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Spanish: Catedral basílica de San Francisco de Asís), commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

The cathedral was built by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1869 and 1886 on the site of an older adobe church, La Parroquia (built in 1714–1717). An older church on the same site, built in 1626, was destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The new cathedral was built around La Parroquia, which was dismantled once the new construction was complete. A small chapel on the north side of the cathedral was kept from the old church.

Influenced by the French-born Archbishop Lamy and in dramatic contrast to the surrounding adobe structures, Saint Francis Cathedral was designed in the Romanesque Revival style. As such, the cathedral features characteristic round arches separated by Corinthian columns and truncated square towers. The large rose window in front and those of the Twelve Apostles in the lateral nave windows were imported from Clermont-Ferrand in France. The towers were originally planned to be topped with dramatic 160-foot (49 m) steeples, but due to lack of funds, these were never built. The north tower is a single row of bricks taller than the south tower. The cathedral was built from yellow limestone blocks quarried near the present site of Lamy. A 2005 addition to the upper façade of the cathedral is a small, round window featuring a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is a stained glass replica of the translucent alabaster window designed in the 17th century by the Italian artist Bernini for St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

The Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi was officially elevated to a basilica by Pope Benedict XVI on October 4, 2005.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.