Introduction
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and is the largest Roman Catholic church in New England.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the mother church of the Metropolitan See of Boston and the seat of His Eminence, Seán Patrick Cardinal O’Malley, the Archbishop of Boston. Located in the South End neighborhood of the City of Boston, the Cathedral serves a vibrant, diverse community worshiping English, Spanish, German, Ge’ez and Tridentine forms of the Catholic Tradition.
Designed by the nineteenth century Irish-American ecclesiastical architect Patrick Keely, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross measures 364 feet in length, 90 feet in width and 120 feet in height. In 1860, Bishop John Fitzpatrick began work on a new Cathedral realizing that the Catholic population outgrew its first cathedral on Franklin Street. After the American Civil War stalled the project, the then diocese of Boston finally broke ground on 29 April 1866. Archbishop John J. Williams, the first archbishop of Boston, presided at the rite of dedication on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of God, 8 December 1875.
As the largest Church in New England, the Cathedral seats nearly 2,000 people. Its Gothic Revival style incorporates local Roxbury pudding stone and gray limestone. The Cathedral houses the largest, and arguably finest, organ built by the world-renowned Hook and Hastings Company in 1875.
While this site offers a taste our faith community, we invite you to come worship, serve and minister with us, discover and engage our living history on Washington Street.
When construction was finished, the cathedral rivaled both Old South Church and Trinity Church in grandeur. The cathedral is located in the city’s South End neighborhood, at 1400 Washington St. Although the South End was initially developed for Boston’s emerging Anglo-Saxon Protestant middle class, the neighborhood transitioned to new immigrants, especially Irish, as middle class owners moved to the new Back Bay neighborhood.
The cathedral functions both as a cathedral and as a parish. The Cathedral Parish consists of large English- and Spanish-speaking congregations, drawn largely from the local area, and also includes three Archdiocese-wide congregations: the Ge’ez Rite practiced by Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Egyptian Catholics; the German Apostolate; and the Tridentine Mass Catholic community. The first of these congregations moved to the cathedral from the nearby Holy Trinity Catholic Church in 1994, the other two in 2008.
History of Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston
For more than 142 years, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston’s South End has stood grandly and served its parishioners. Now, after decades of graceful aging, the building is undergoing a crucial renovation. As a part of the project, Longleaf Lumber was able to salvage thousands of feet of gorgeous heart pine flooring.
When Boston’s Catholic population exploded in the mid-1800s, the sole Catholic church on Franklin Street was overwhelmed. To accommodate the newly-arrived churchgoers, architect Patrick C. Keely was commissioned to draw up plans for a new cathedral. Born in Ireland, Keely emigrated to the United States in 1842, beginning his career as a carpenter in Brooklyn, New York. Over the course of his career, Keely designed 16 cathedrals and close to 600 other churches.
Although Keely’s first site visit at Washington Street in Boston was in 1861, the United States Civil War put a temporary halt on construction plans, and ground wasn’t broken until 1866. Nine years later, in 1875, the cathedral was dedicated.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston Designed in the Gothic Revival style, the Cathedral was made primarily from Roxbury Conglomerate (informally known as Roxbury pudding stone), the official rock of Massachusetts and bedrock stone underneath twelve Boston area cities. The cathedral was trimmed with Quincy granite and sand stone. Keely also designed the altar and the case for the Hook & Hastings organ, which at the time was the largest of its kind in the United States.
Today, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and is the largest Roman Catholic church in New England. The building is 364 feet long by 170 feet wide at the transepts (90 feet at the nave and aisles), by 120 feet high to the ridge pole.
In additional to being an important location for religious services, it is also home to a children’s camp, meeting space for Alcoholics Anonymous, an emergency shelter, a food pantry, an immunization center, and other social services. Historic events that took place at the cathedral include a Requiem for John F. Kennedy in 1964, a prayer service by Pope John Paul II in 1979, and an inter faith prayer vigil for Boston Marathon bombing victims, with a eulogy delivered by President Barack Obama in 2013.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston by Jim Hood Due to its age and deterioration of some materials, the cathedral is now being renovated. Suffolk Construction is handling the $25 million reconstruction, and has committed to doing so without profit. The extensive improvements to the cathedral include a new floor and altar as well as new sprinkler, lighting, and sound systems. The leaking roof and water-damaged walls will be repaired, and air conditioning installed. Pews for over 2,000 people have been removed and will be refinished and reinstalled. Beams are to be varnished, columns painted, and the extensive collection of stained glass illuminated.
Longleaf Lumber became a part of the renovation process when the existing flooring was scheduled to be removed. After assessing the floors in place, it was determined that careful and skilled dismantling of the existing floor structure would allow the antique boards to be saved. As the flooring was removed from beneath the pews, we discovered a striking wear pattern of both bright and dark patches.
The cathedral was named after the relic of holy cross that is owned by the church. This relic, supposedly a small fragment of the cross from Jesus’ crucifixion was on display in the cathedral until 2010 when it was stolen from the church by a janitor. The relic was eventually returned to the cathedral, and since its theft the relic has only been on display during special dates through out the liturgical year.
In 2018, the first major renovation of the cathedral began. During the process, approximately 8,000 square feet of reclaimed wood was salvaged from the building. The $26 million renovation was completed on Palm Sunday 2019.
Architecture
Architectural Style : Gothic Revival architecture
Architect : Patrick Keely
The cathedral was designed by Patrick Keely, a noted ecclesiastical architect, in the Gothic Revival style. Construction commenced in 1867 and was completed in 1875. With local anti-Catholic sentiments a recent memory, the Gothic Revival edifice was intentionally massive, a statement that the Catholics of Boston were here to stay. Bricks from the 1834 riots in Charlestown, in which an Ursuline convent was burned down, were used in the arch over the front door.
Built of Roxbury pudding stone with gray lime stone trim, it reaches a height of 120 feet. Until the erection of the new Cathedral of St. Joseph (Hartford, Connecticut) in 1957, Holy Cross was the largest cathedral in New England. The building, measuring 364 ft (111 m) in length and 90 ft (27 m) at the transepts, can accommodate about 2,000 worshippers in the main level. There is also an oratory for smaller services in the lower level. A planned western spire was never completed. Supervision of the construction fell largely to Keely and his assistant John A. Dempwolf.
The cathedral retains its E. and G.G. Hook and Hastings pipe organ, opus 801, which was installed in 1875. The organ console was replaced in 1929 with a used theatre organ console when the instrument was updated. In 2003, the Andover Organ Company created and installed its opus R-394, a replica of the original three-manual console, and updated wiring and made other needed repairs.
Notable Events
- On January 19, 1964, Richard Cardinal Cushing celebrated a Requiem for President John F. Kennedy that was recorded and broadcast to the nation. The Boston Symphony Orchestra accompanied the Mozart Requiem.
- On October 1, 1979, Pope John Paul II held a 38-minute prayer service for 2,000 priests in the cathedral during his first pilgrimage to the United States.
- On April 18, 2013, an interfaith prayer vigil in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing took place at the cathedral, with President Barack Obama delivering the eulogy.
A Cathedral Rich In History
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross personifies the story of our past while broadening its pastoral out reach in the larger community. This iconic treasure inspires people to grow in faith, welcomes those most in need and preserves some of the most important moments in our collective history.
Responding to the need for a larger Cathedral 150 years ago, the renowned church architect Patrick Keely designed this Gothic revival structure incorporating massive stained glass windows from Germany, pudding stone from local Roxbury quarries, the hand-carved high altar and the largest organ in North America at that time. Together, they created a spectacular “Mother Church” for the Archdiocese.
Although used weekly by thousands, the Upper Church has received little refurbishment in its 150 years. We are seeking the needed philanthropic funds to fully restore the interior. This project remains a pivotal cornerstone of Inspiring Hope: Our Cardinal’s Campaign for the Future of Our Catholic Faith.
A Missionary Parish
Today, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross stands as a living expression of God’s love through its active parish community. With its capacity of 2,000, the Cathedral provides an important gathering place for Catholics living across the 144 communities of the Archdiocese.
In addition to its significance as a place of worship, its facilities deliver critical social services. The parish serves a growing population in the South End with tremendous diversity and many young families. It provides spiritual care for Cathedral High School (CHS), a Catholic middle and high school serving 360 students who come from low income backgrounds. The CHS community celebrates Mass, receives religious education and uses space for programs including its peer ministry program.
As a social justice centre, the Cathedral provides:
- Help to homeless families transitioning from shelters to permanent housing.
- Free health services through its Cathedral Cares Clinic, which is staffed by a registered nurse, and semi-annual health fairs offered in collaboration with Boston Health Care for the Homeless.
- Weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
- Saint Helena House, housing for low income seniors administered by HUD.
- An off-site shelter for victims of human trafficking in collaboration with the City of Boston.
- Homeless outreach, where young members of the Order of Malta bring prepared water, clothing, and human interaction to the streets.
- A food pantry run by Catholic Charities that serves 250 families weekly.
A Cathedral For All
As the seat of the Cardinal Archbishop, the Cathedral welcomes visitors, pilgrims and community leaders. Throughout the year, Cardinal Seán invites groups to fill the Cathedral and celebrate their faith, including the Blue Mass for first responders, Haitian Independence Day and Walking with Mary, a multicultural Marian procession. The Cardinal also ordains deacons, priests and bishops to serve the people of God in every corner of the Archdiocese.
In 2015, Pope Francis invited the Universal Church to celebrate an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. During the Year of Mercy, the Cathedral welcomed more than 10,000 pilgrims who passed through its Holy Doors.
Diverse Communities of Faith
- 21 weekly Masses with more than 1,200 people in attendance.
- Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, Latin, and the Ge’ez Eastern Rite.
- A thriving Hispanic community hosts weekly Spanish masses, religious education, and bible studies.
- Members of the Neo-catechumenal Way meet weekly and engage in neighborhood evangelization.
- Hundreds of new Catholics baptized each year.
- The Brazilian Catholic community, Archdiocesan Campus Ministry, and parish programs confirm hundreds of Catholics each year.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the largest church of any faith in New England and an important spiritual home. The renovation will restore this awe-inspiring edifice with respect for the integrity of the Church’s artistic masterpieces. At the request of Cardinal Seán, John Fish, the Chairman and CEO of Suffolk, will lead the renovation along with David Manfredi, CEO and Founding Principal of Elkus Manfredi Architects. The work will include:
Seating
Pews removed, repaired, refinished, and reinstalled with new kneelers. The pew platforms removed.
Walls, Ceiling, and Flooring
Walls repaired and painted. Woodwork cleaned and varnished. Ceiling beams varnished and ceiling restored to original colors. Columns and arches painted. A new stone floor replaces the wooden floors throughout.
Windows
Stained glass windows cleaned and illuminated from within at night.
Sanctuary
The sanctuary platform lowered. The ceiling and walls repaired and painted using original colors and designs. A new baptismal font relocated to the front of the Saint Joseph Shrine. New altar and ambo installed along with handicap accessibility.
Lady Chapel and Upper Church Level
The Blessed Mother statue and side altar cleaned and restored. Central air conditioning installed. The choir area and vestibule painted.
Safety, Lighting, and Sound
New sprinkler and fire protection systems, electrical wiring, LED lighting installed as well as a state-of-the-art digital sound system.
Feast Day – 14th September
September 14th is the solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross which is the titular feast of the Cathedral. As permitted for a titular feast of a parish we celebrate it on the nearest Sunday.
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Contact Info
1400 Washington Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, MA – 02118, United States
Phone No.
Tel : +1 617-542-5682
Accommodations
How to reach the Cathedral
Boston Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, United States is the nearby Airport to the Cathedral.
Prudential Light Rail Station in Boston, Massachusetts, United States is the nearby Train Station to the Cathedral.
