St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (Indianapolis)
Encyclopedia
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
located in Indianapolis, Indiana
, United States
. The church building and the rectory
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
on the two towers that flank the main façade
were designed by Oscar Bohlen of D. A. Bohlen & Son and built in 1893.
The intention was for St. John’s to serve as the cathedral
when the Diocese of Vincennes
moved to Indianapolis. It partially served that function. It was the Proto-cathedral of the Diocese of Vincennes from 1871-1898. Pope Leo XIII
officially moved the See City to Indianapolis on March 28, 1898 and St. John’s continued as the cathedral church until 1907 when it was replaced by Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral
. The parish continued to house the diocesan chancery
until 1968 and the Metropolitan Tribunal until 1982.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
located in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The church building and the rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
St. John’s is the first Catholic parish in the city of Indianapolis. The present site on which the church was built was purchased in 1846, and the parish built its second church there. When it became too small, Dietrich Bohlen was hired to design the present church. It was built in the Gothic Revival style from 1863-1867. The spiresSpires
Spires may refer to:* SPIRES, a database for publications in High-Energy Physics* Speyer , a city in Germany* The Spires, a commercial conference centre, operated out of Church House, Belfast by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland...
on the two towers that flank the main façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
were designed by Oscar Bohlen of D. A. Bohlen & Son and built in 1893.
The intention was for St. John’s to serve as the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
when the Diocese of Vincennes
Roman Catholic Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana
The Diocese of Vincennes was created on May 6, 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI. On March 28, 1898, the name of the diocese was changed to what is now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis...
moved to Indianapolis. It partially served that function. It was the Proto-cathedral of the Diocese of Vincennes from 1871-1898. Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
officially moved the See City to Indianapolis on March 28, 1898 and St. John’s continued as the cathedral church until 1907 when it was replaced by Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis served as the Proto-cathedral from 1871-1907. The Diocese of Vincennes was renamed the Diocese...
. The parish continued to house the diocesan chancery
Diocesan chancery
A diocesan chancery is the branch of administration which handles all written documents used in the official government of a Roman Catholic or Anglican diocese....
until 1968 and the Metropolitan Tribunal until 1982.