St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette
Encyclopedia
St. Peter Cathedral is a large Roman Catholic cathedral
located on Baraga Avenue in Marquette, Michigan
. As the mother church of the Diocese of Marquette
, it is one of the most notable marks of Catholic presence in the Upper Peninsula. The church, as we see it today, is nothing like it first was, when a Jesuit priest named Father Jean-Baptiste Menet began holding services on the site in a small log cabin
.
’s visit to the site, it was determined that a larger, more prominent church should be built, and that eventually the see
should be moved to Marquette from Sault Ste. Marie
. Construction began in 1864, with Baraga himself laying the cornerstone. Two years later he dedicated the building, but fortunately he did not live to see his beloved cathedral catch fire
.
Some have suggested that this first fire, on October 2, 1879, was caused by Irish arsonists
who were enraged that Father John Kenny had been removed as pastor. Though the building was destroyed, the congregation’s resolve was fervent as ever, and plans were made to continue meeting in the basement
before a new cathedral could be erected. It took nine winters to complete the new building.
The church also faced another tragic fire which destroyed everything except the sandstone
walls: a few minutes after four in the morning on November 3, 1935, the building again erupted in flames. A high school auditorium
was used for Mass
for several months until the cathedral could be restored.
Extensive work and money was put into its reconstruction and beautification, including elaborate marble
work and Romanesque columns, as well as an extended nave
and domes on the tops of the steeples
. This church is one of around 200, including at least three other cathedrals, that incorporates the work of architectural sculptor
Corrado Parducci
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
located on Baraga Avenue in Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
. As the mother church of the Diocese of Marquette
Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette is a suffragan diocese of the Roman rite, encompassing all of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in the ecclesiastical province of the Archbishop of Detroit. It encompasses an area of 16,281 square miles .Its cathedral is St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette,...
, it is one of the most notable marks of Catholic presence in the Upper Peninsula. The church, as we see it today, is nothing like it first was, when a Jesuit priest named Father Jean-Baptiste Menet began holding services on the site in a small log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
.
History
Upon Bishop Frederic BaragaFrederic Baraga
Frederic Baraga, Servant of God was a Slovene American Roman Catholic missionary, bishop, and grammarian.-Early life:Frederic Baraga was born as Friderik Irenej Baraga in the manor house at Mala Vas no...
’s visit to the site, it was determined that a larger, more prominent church should be built, and that eventually the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
should be moved to Marquette from Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
. Construction began in 1864, with Baraga himself laying the cornerstone. Two years later he dedicated the building, but fortunately he did not live to see his beloved cathedral catch fire
Structure fire
A structure fire is a fire involving the structural components of various residential buildings ranging from single-family detached homes and townhouses to apartments and tower blocks, or various commercial buildings ranging from offices to shopping malls...
.
Some have suggested that this first fire, on October 2, 1879, was caused by Irish arsonists
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
who were enraged that Father John Kenny had been removed as pastor. Though the building was destroyed, the congregation’s resolve was fervent as ever, and plans were made to continue meeting in the basement
Basement
__FORCETOC__A basement is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the ground floor. Basements are typically used as a utility space for a building where such items as the furnace, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system...
before a new cathedral could be erected. It took nine winters to complete the new building.
The church also faced another tragic fire which destroyed everything except the sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
walls: a few minutes after four in the morning on November 3, 1935, the building again erupted in flames. A high school auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
was used for Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
for several months until the cathedral could be restored.
Extensive work and money was put into its reconstruction and beautification, including elaborate marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
work and Romanesque columns, as well as an extended nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and domes on the tops of the steeples
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
. This church is one of around 200, including at least three other cathedrals, that incorporates the work of architectural sculptor
Architectural sculpture
Architectural sculpture is the term for the use of sculpture by an architect and/or sculptor in the design of a building, bridge, mausoleum or other such project...
Corrado Parducci
Corrado Parducci
Corrado Giuseppe Parducci was an Italian-American architectural sculptor who was a celebrated artist for his numerous early 20th Century works.-Early life and education:...
.