By Melissa Wermeister
You will find the majority of Louisville’s cathedrals in downtown Louisville. On 10th and Main Street is where St. Louis Church, the first catholic church built in Louisville, is located. Constructed in 1811, the church was originally not considered to have cathedral status. It didn’t earn that honor until 1841, when Louisville’s population grew to 21,000 people (4,000 of them being catholic). This moved the diocese from St. Joseph Cathedral in Bardstown to Louisville.
The St. Louis Cathedral has survived many tough times throughout history. One monumental event occurred on August 6, 1855, a day of rioting that became known as “Bloody Monday.” On this day, an anti-immigrant party attacked Catholics and burned down buildings. By the end of the day, over 20 people were dead, most of them Irish or German, and many buildings were destroyed.
The St. Louis Cathedral has been the site of several notable events. During the Civil War, the cathedral hosted memorial services for both the North and the South. A service was held at the cathedral when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. In 1952, the cathedral celebrated its centennial. It was the first cathedral to have a televised mass in Louisville on Christmas Eve. The St. Louis Cathedral holds the seat of the Archdiocese and Archbishop of Louisville.
The Cathedral of the Assumption, completed in 1852, is located on 493 So. 5th Street. It is the third oldest cathedral in the country and the fourth oldest building in downtown Louisville. At the time of its construction, the church’s 287-foot spire was the tallest in North America.
Another cathedral found here in Louisville is the Christ Church (Episcopal). This church, built in 1822, did not receive cathedral status until 1894.
If you would like more information on Louisville’s cathedrals or would like to see what they look like, visit this web site:
www.cathedral-heritage.org or call the Cathedral Heritage Foundation at 583-3100.
