The Cathedral of St. Paul
Authored by Iris Steiner-Manning
The Cathedral of St. Paul
From its position on St. Anthony Hill, the Cathedral overlooks both downtown and the Capitol.
Cathedral Interior
The Cathedral's interior bursts with vibrant color, in contrast with its imposing granite and copper exterior.
The Papal Octopus
Anti-Catholicism was a major issue when the Cathedral of St. Paul was constructed. This 1913 political cartoon summarizes the broad range of stereotypes behind anti-Catholic sentiment.
It’s nearly impossible to discuss architecture in Minnesota without addressing the monumental Cathedral of St. Paul. It has been described as “the grandest structure in the state,”1 and since its construction, “no building in the Twin Cities has approached it in ambition or significance.”2 Not everyone has always loved the building, though. F. Scott Fitzgerald, a famous St. Paul resident, described the cathedral as “a big white bull dog on its haunches.”3 Still, regardless of its reviews, this building has become an unforgettable part of the Twin Cities skyline.
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Lathrop, Alan K. Churches in Minnesota. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2003.165. ↩
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Nelson, Paul. "Cathedral of St. Paul." MNopedia. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society). <http://www.mnopedia.org/structure/cathedral-st-paul>↩
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Millett, Larry. AIA Guide to the Twin Cities : The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2007.↩
Construction on the Cathedral began in 1904, led by Bishop John Ireland. Ireland was a well-known advocate for the rights of American Catholics, remarking in 1884 that “there is no conflict between the Catholic Church and America.”4 Ireland sought to emphasize the connection and collaboration between Catholicism and the American way of life when contemporary anti-Catholics were working to push the opposite narrative.
Ireland’s choice to construct the building on the bluff of St. Anthony Hill, overlooking both St. Paul’s downtown and the Minnesota State Capitol (completed in 1906), further connects Catholicism to the life of the city. Ignoring the similarities between the domes of the Capitol and the Cathedral is impossible. Ireland’s choice of location and design asserts an enduring Catholicism with, not against, Minnesota society. Others could see it differently. One commenter suggested this "House of God" looks down, "literally and symbolically, on moneychangers (downtown) and Caesar (the Capitol).”5
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Wiering, Maria. “Archbishop Ireland remembered 100 years after his death.” The Catholic Spirit. 7 Mar. 2018. <https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/archbishop-ireland-remembered-100-years-death/>↩
The Cathedral of St. Paul, with its unashamed confidence, showed Catholics that the city was a place where they didn’t need to hide.
The architectural features of the building were carefully conceived by little-known French architect Emmanuel Masqueray, who met Bishop Ireland at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. Masqueray modeled his design for the Cathedral on French churches and the beaux-arts style. He incorporated elements of Renaissance, classical, Baroque, and Gothic styles, and placed “a massive dome” on a “stubby Greek cross plan.”6
One feature of the Cathedral’s interior that points to Minnesota’s Catholic history is the chapels that make up the Shrine of Nations. Each alcove represents an ethnic group that contributed to the Cathedral — Irish, French Canadian, Italian, German, and Slavic. Despite Bishop Ireland’s focus on forming an American Catholicism, the architecture of the Cathedral reflects how ethnic groups still maintained a connection to their ancestors. Although Maqueray’s design is not pure in style or universally adored, it is certainly awe-inspiring and serves as a constant reminder of the impact of Catholics in the history of St. Paul.
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Lathrop, Alan K. Churches in Minnesota. (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2003), 165. ↩
By constructing such an impactful building, Ireland demonstrated his belief in the validity and importance of Catholics in America. The Cathedral certainly is not shy and does the opposite of concealing itself in its surroundings — all at a time when Catholics were persecuted in the United States, at times by hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The Cathedral of St. Paul, with its unashamed confidence, showed Catholics that the city was a place where they didn’t need to hide and could, rather, make their own impact on the landscape.
