| Cathedral of the Sacred Heart | |
|---|---|
 Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in 2025 | |
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| 37°32′50.8″N77°27′7.7″W / 37.547444°N 77.452139°W /37.547444; -77.452139 | |
| Location | 823 Cathedral Place Richmond, Virginia |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1906 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Joseph Hubert McGuire |
| Style | Renaissance Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1903 |
| Completed | 1905 |
| Construction cost | $18898000 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 206 feet (63 m)[1] |
| Width | 144 feet (44 m)[1] |
| Height | 144 feet (44 m)[1] |
| Materials | Virginia granite (foundation),Indiana limestone (walls), Copper (dome)[1] |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Richmond |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop | Barry C. Knestout |
| Rector | Fr. Anthony E. Marques |
| Designated | 8 July 1982 |
| Reference no. | 82004584 |
| Designated | 5 July 1984 |
| Part of | Monroe Park Historic District |
| Reference no. | 84003572 |
| Designated | 15 December 1981[2] |
| Reference no. | 127-0137 |
TheCathedral of the Sacred Heart inRichmond,Virginia, isCatholic cathedral that is the seat of theDiocese of Richmond. The property is located along North Laurel Street at 823 Cathedral Place, facingMonroe Park one block north of Main Street. Construction of the cathedral was begun in 1903, financed by donations ofThomas Fortune Ryan and his wife; it was the only cathedral at that time known to be constructed by the exclusive patronage of a single family.
The cathedral was completed in 1905 and consecrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1906. The cathedral is a Virginia Historic Landmark and is on theNational Register of Historic Places.
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart hosts the Catholic Campus Ministry forVirginia Commonwealth University.
Virginia-bornThomas Fortune Ryan converted to Roman Catholicism en route to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1868. In Baltimore, Ryan made his fortune in railroads and streetcar transit and marriedIda Mary Barry, the daughter of a Catholic former employer. Ida contributed to various Catholic charities and causes, including in Virginia, but the Ryans' philanthropy in Richmond increased after they purchased a 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) plot inNelson County, Virginia. In 1901, Ida donated money to build a church dedicated to theSacred Heart in Manchester (now part of Richmond) so that worshippers did not have to cross theJames River for services. She also provided funds for the construction of a school, a new chapel convent, and churches in Harrisonburg and Newport News (St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church). They also funded projects in Washington, D.C., and New York. In 1901, Ida and Ryan each donated $250,000 to build a cathedral overlookingMonroe Park near theFan district—in today's money, equivalent to $18,898,000.[3]
Historically, Richmond did not have a large or influential Catholic population, but it was growing at the turn of the century. Part of the plot for the church had been owned by the Diocese since 1865. The parish had planned for aUS$120,000 church at the location since 1882, but an effort to purchase the rest of the triangular block stalled until the Ryans' gift.[3]
The Ryans choseJoseph Hubert McGuire as the church's architect. The church, bishop's house and pastoral home fill the entire block. The cornerstone was laid June 4, 1903, by Father Conway ofSt. Ignatius, New York;[4] the stone block came from theGarden of Gethsemane.[3] According to a diocesan official, it was the only cathedral in the world erected through the "sole munificence of one family".[3][5]
The building is an example ofItalian Renaissance Revival architecture. The exterior is constructed from Virginiagranite and Indianalimestone; ceramic tiles and acopper-jacketed dome 118 feet (36 m) across complete the roof.[6] The cathedral's two front towers rise 90 feet (27 m). The portico is supported by fluted Corinthian columns; theentablature features the phrase "If Ye Love Me Keep My Commandments", while the underside of thepediment is lined with fireproof tiles designed byRafael Guastavino.[3][7]
The cathedral was consecrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1906[6] in a series of ceremonies throughout the day. The church's consecration began at 6 am.[4]
In the time period following theSecond Vatican Council, the cathedral made radical alterations to its interior. The original high altar was destroyed and a freestanding altar was installed. Thenave was enlarged and room made for a larger, more open sanctuary. The marble altar rails, present in the building since its construction, were destroyed. Confessionals were repurposed into display cases. Iconography and statuary which had previously adorned the sanctuary was removed.[citation needed]
The cathedral is a Virginia Historic Landmark and is on theNational Register for Historic Places.[6]
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