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Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

    Completed in 1912, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, on East Colfax Avenue in Denver, was the result of decades of effort on the part of the city’s early Catholic community. Sometimes called the “Pinnacled Glory of the West,” the building’s elegant Gothic Revival design and twin 210-foot spires made it a Denver landmark. In 1979 Pope John Paul II honored the cathedral, designating it as a minor basilica in recognition of its distinguished history and architecture, and it continues to serve the city’s Catholic community today.

    Trials and Tribulations

    Denver’s Catholic community took shape early in the city’s history. In 1860, two years after Denver was founded, Father (later Bishop) Joseph Machebeuf established the city’s first Catholic parish—St. Mary’s—and celebrated the city’s first Mass. The small church at Fifteenth and Stout Streets was enlarged in 1871 to accommodate a growing congregation, but it was still not large enough. In 1873 the church was elevated to cathedral status, which made the need for a larger and grander building even more pressing.

    In 1880 the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Association was formed for the purpose of erecting a new and larger cathedral in Denver dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Progress was slow, in part because Bishop Machebeuf tended to focus his energy on establishing and organizing the Catholic Church in Colorado. After Machebeuf’s death in 1889, his successor, Nicholas Matz, soon decided on a site for the new cathedral. Before the land could be acquired, the Panic of 1893 intervened and caused the postponement of all building plans.

    When the cathedral project restarted around 1900, the involvement of local businessman and philanthropist John K. Mullen proved crucial to its success. Mullen donated to the cause and convinced other Catholic bankers and businessmen to do the same. They acquired eight lots for the cathedral site at the northwest corner of Logan Street and East Colfax Avenue in Capitol Hill, which was rapidly filling with the mansions of Denver’s wealthiest residents.

    After Bishop Matz visited Europe in 1901 and saw storied cathedrals in Rome and his native Münster, Germany, he devoted more time to getting the new Denver cathedral off the ground. The building committee raised $100,000 of the cathedral’s projected $250,000 cost, and ground was broken at the East Colfax site. But it would take several more years to complete the cathedral. The building’s cost quickly ballooned to $500,000, and the building fund was lost when its investments in Cripple Creek mining went bust. The building site remained little more than a hole in the ground over the next four years.

    Pinnacled Glory of the West

    The arrival of Hugh McMenamin, who became an assistant in the cathedral parish in 1905 and was appointed rector of the cathedral in 1908, devoted significant energy to resuscitating the project and raising money for it. In July 1906, the cornerstone was laid, but economic troubles intervened yet again—this time in the form of the Panic of 1907—to delay construction. McMenamin was there to keep the momentum going, and the cathedral was completed in 1912.

    Called the “Pinnacled Glory of the West,” the cathedral was designed by Detroit architect Leon Coquard in the Gothic Revival style. When Coquard came down with an illness, the Denver firm of Aaron Gove and Thomas Walsh supervised the project. Constructed with Indiana limestone on a foundation of Colorado granite, the building measured 195 feet long and 116 feet wide, with a pair of twin spires that rose 210 feet above East Colfax Avenue. The interior was decorated with statuary of Italian Carrara marble, stained-glass windows made by the Royal Bavarian Institute in Germany, and a massive 3,000-pipe Kimball organ. The pews could seat 1,500, the largest capacity of any church in the city. When the cathedral was dedicated on October 27, 1912, 10,000 Catholics paraded through the city—“the greatest religious demonstration ever witnessed in the Rocky Mountain region,” according to one Denver newspaper.

    The congregation had taken on debt of about $250,000 to pay for the $500,000 cathedral. To help cover annual debt payments and operating costs totaling nearly $45,000, McMenamin sold naming rights to various parts of the new cathedral, such as statues and windows. The debt was onerous until 1919, when John Mullen put $110,000 in trust for the cathedral to be used when it would be enough to retire the debt. McMenamin quickly threw himself into a new round of fund-raising, and he was able to pay off the remaining debt the next year, with $45,000 left over.

    Once the cathedral was out of debt, it was consecrated on October 23, 1921, in a ceremony attended by six archbishops, thirteen bishops, and a huge crowd estimated at 150,000 spectators.

    Cathedral Basilica

    For more than a century the cathedral has played a central role in Denver’s religious and social life, providing a stable presence while also adapting to the changing circumstances around it. When the cathedral was built, it was in Denver’s best neighborhood; John Mullen and Molly Brown were among its neighbors and parishioners. By the 1960s, Capitol Hill had changed significantly, especially along East Colfax Avenue, and the area around the cathedral probably counted more homeless residents than millionaires. The cathedral continued to keep its doors open to all during its operating hours, and in 1970 the rector, James Rasby, started a sandwich line to provide people with at least one meal a day, six days a week.

    By the 1970s, the cathedral was starting to show its age. Extensive renovations in 1974–75 enlarged the sanctuary, plastered cracks, improved the sound and lighting, and modernized the electrical wiring. In 1977 the Archbishop of Denver, James Casey, requested that the Vatican declare Denver’s newly renovated cathedral a minor basilica, a distinction usually given to churches whose history, record of service, and architecture are outstanding. In 1979 Pope John Paul II made the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception the first minor basilica approved during his pontificate. The Pope later celebrated Mass at the cathedral during the World Youth Day event held in Denver in August 1993.

    The cathedral’s one-hundredth anniversary Mass was celebrated on October 27, 2012. It continues to serve as an active place of worship and remains the heart of the local Catholic community. The cathedral celebrates three daily masses and six Sunday masses, and the lunch program established by Rasby now serves more than 50,000 meals annually to the poor and the homeless.

    Completed in 1912, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception sits on East Colfax Avenue in Denver. It was the result of decades of effort on the part of the city’s early Catholic community. It is sometimes called the “Pinnacled Glory of the West.” The building’s elegant French Gothic design and twin 210-foot spires have made it a Denver landmark. In 1979 Pope John Paul II honored the cathedral. He designated it as a minor basilica in recognition of its distinguished history and architecture. It continues to serve the city’s Catholic community today.

    Trials and Tribulations

    Denver’s Catholic community took shape early in the city’s history. In 1860, two years after Denver was founded, Father (later Bishop) Joseph Machebeuf established the city’s first Catholic parish and celebrated the city’s first Mass. The small church of Saint Mary’s at Fifteenth and Stout Streets was enlarged in 1871. While it accommodated a growing congregation, it was still not large enough. In 1873 the church was elevated to cathedral status. This made the need for a larger and grander building even more pressing.

    In 1880 the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Association was formed. Its purpose was to build a new and larger cathedral. It would be dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Progress was slow. Bishop Machebeuf’s energies focused on establishing and organizing the Catholic Church in Colorado. After Machebeuf’s death in 1889, his successor Nicholas Matz decided on a site for the new cathedral. Before the land could be acquired, the Panic of 1893 caused the postponement of all building plans.

    The cathedral project restarted around 1900. This time, the involvement of local businessman and philanthropist John K. Mullen proved crucial. Mullen donated to the cause, and he convinced other Catholic bankers and businessmen to do the same. They acquired eight lots for the cathedral site. The lots, at the northwest corner of Logan Street and East Colfax Avenue, were in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. This area was rapidly filling with the mansions of Denver’s wealthiest residents.

    Bishop Matz visited Europe in 1901. He toured the storied cathedrals in Rome and his native Münster, Germany. Upon his return, he devoted more time to getting the new Denver cathedral off the ground. The building committee raised $100,000 of the cathedral’s projected $250,000 cost. Ground was broken at the East Colfax site, but it would take several more years to complete the cathedral. The building’s cost quickly ballooned to $500,000. Then the building fund was lost when its investments in Cripple Creek mining went bust. The building site remained little more than a hole in the ground over the next four years.

    Pinnacled Glory of the West

    Hugh McMenamin became an assistant in the cathedral parish in 1905 and was appointed rector of the cathedral in 1908. McMenamin’s energy resuscitated the project and he raised money for it. The cornerstone was laid in July 1906. Economic troubles intervened yet again—this time in the form of the Panic of 1907—to delay construction. McMenamin was there to keep the momentum going. The cathedral was completed in 1912.

    Called the “Pinnacled Glory of the West,” the cathedral was designed in the French Gothic style. When Detroit architect Leon Coquard came down with an illness, the Denver firm of Aaron Gove and Thomas Walsh supervised the project. It was built with Indiana limestone on a foundation of Colorado granite. The building measured 195 feet long and 116 feet wide, and its pair of twin spires rose 210 feet above East Colfax Avenue. The interior was decorated with statuary of Italian Carrara marble, stained-glass windows made by the Royal Bavarian Institute in Germany, and a massive 3,000-pipe Kimball organ. The pews could seat 1,500, the largest capacity of any church in the city. When the cathedral was dedicated on October 27, 1912, 10,000 Catholics paraded through the city. It was “the greatest religious demonstration ever witnessed in the Rocky Mountain region,” according to one Denver newspaper.

    The congregation had taken on debt of about $250,000 to pay for the $500,000 cathedral. To help cover debt payments and operating costs, McMenamin sold naming rights to various parts of the cathedral, such as statues and windows. The debt was onerous until 1919. John Mullen put $110,000 in trust for the cathedral to be used when it would be enough to retire the debt. McMenamin quickly threw himself into a new round of fund-raising. He was able to pay off the remaining debt the next year, with $45,000 left over.

    Once the cathedral was out of debt, it was consecrated on October 23, 1921. The ceremony was attended by six archbishops and thirteen bishops. A huge crowd was estimated at 150,000 spectators.

    Cathedral Basilica

    For more than a century, the cathedral has played a central role in Denver’s religious and social life. It provides a stable presence while adapting to the changing circumstances around it. When the cathedral was built, it was in Denver’s wealthiest neighborhood. John Mullen and Molly Brown were among its neighbors and parishioners. By the 1960s, Capitol Hill had changed significantly. The area around the cathedral probably counted more homeless residents than millionaires. The cathedral continued to keep its doors open to all during operating hours. In 1970 rector James Rasby started a sandwich line to provide people with at least one meal a day, six days a week.

    By the 1970s, the cathedral was starting to show its age. Extensive renovations took place in 1974–75. These enlarged the sanctuary, plastered cracks, improved the sound and lighting, and modernized the wiring. In 1977 the Archbishop of Denver, James Casey, requested that the Vatican declare the newly renovated cathedral a minor basilica. This distinction is usually given to churches with outstanding history, record of service, and architecture. In 1979 Pope John Paul II made the Cathedral the first minor basilica approved during his pontificate. The Pope later celebrated Mass at the cathedral during the World Youth Day event held in Denver in August 1993.

    The cathedral celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Mass on October 27, 2012. It continues to serve as an active place of worship and remains the heart of the local Catholic community. The cathedral celebrates three daily masses and six Sunday masses. The lunch program established by Rasby now serves more than 50,000 meals annually to the poor and the homeless.

    Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was completed in 1912. It sits on East Colfax Avenue, just blocks from the state capitol. It was the result of decades of effort. The building’s elegant French Gothic design and twin spires made it a Denver landmark. It is known as the “Pinnacled Glory of the West.” In 1979 Pope John Paul II honored the cathedral. He designated it as a minor basilica. This recognized its noted history and architecture. It continues to serve the city’s Catholic community.

    Trials and Tribulations

    Denver was founded in 1858. The city’s Catholic community took shape early. In 1860 Father (later Bishop) Joseph Machebeuf established the city’s first Catholic parish. He celebrated the city’s first Mass. The small church of Saint Mary’s at Fifteenth and Stout Streets was enlarged in 1871. While it held a growing congregation, it was still not large enough. In 1873 the church was elevated to cathedral status. This made the need for a larger and grander building even more pressing.

    In 1880 the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Association formed. Its goal was to build a new cathedral. It would be dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Progress was slow. Bishop Machebeuf needed to focus on the Catholic Church in Colorado. He had little time for the Cathedral. Machebeuf died in 1889. His successor Nicholas Matz, quickly decided on a site. Before the land could be purchased, the Panic of 1893 postponed all building plans.

    The cathedral project restarted around 1900. This time, the involvement of local businessman John K. Mullen proved crucial. Mullen donated to the cause and convinced other Catholic bankers and businessmen to do the same. They acquired eight lots for the cathedral site. The lots, at the northwest corner of Logan Street and East Colfax Avenue, were in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. This area was rapidly filling with the mansions of Denver’s wealthiest residents.

    Bishop Matz visited Europe in 1901. He toured the cathedrals in Rome and his native Münster, Germany. Upon his return, he devoted more time to the cathedral project. The building committee raised $100,000. This was less than half of the cathedral’s projected $250,000 cost.  Ground was broken at the East Colfax site, but it would take several more years to complete the cathedral. The building’s cost ballooned to $500,000. Then, the building fund was lost when investments in Cripple Creek mining went bust. The building site remained little more than a hole in the ground over the next four years.

    Pinnacled Glory of the West

    Hugh McMenamin became an assistant in the parish in 1905. He became rector in 1908. His energy revived the project. In July 1906, the cornerstone was laid. Economic troubles delayed building again; this time it was the Panic of 1907. McMenamin kept the project going. The cathedral was completed in 1912.

    The cathedral was designed in the French Gothic style. The architect was Leon Coquard of Detroit. When he came down with an illness, the Denver firm of Aaron Gove and Thomas Walsh supervised the project. Colorado granite served as the foundation. The building was constructed with Indiana limestone. It measured 195 feet long and 116 feet wide. Its pair of twin spires rose 210 feet above East Colfax Avenue, giving it the nickname “Pinnacled Glory of the West.” The interior held a massive 3,000-pipe Kimball organ. Decorations were statuary made of Italian Carrara marble. The Royal Bavarian Institute in Germany made the stained-glass windows. The pews could seat 1,500, giving it the largest capacity of any church in the city. The cathedral was dedicated on October 27, 1912. Ten thousand Catholics paraded through the city. A Denver paper said it was “the greatest religious demonstration ever witnessed in the Rocky Mountain region.”

    To pay for the cathedral, the congregation had taken on debt. They owed about $250,000. McMenamin had to figure out how to made these payments and pay for operating costs. He sold naming rights to parts of the cathedral, such as statues and windows. The debt was burdensome until 1919. Then, John Mullen put $110,000 in trust for the cathedral. McMenamin threw himself into a new round of fund-raising. He paid off the remaining debt the next year, with $45,000 left over.

    Once the cathedral was out of debt, it was consecrated on October 23, 1921. The ceremony was attended by six archbishops and thirteen bishops, and drew a crowd of about 150,000.

    Cathedral Basilica

    For more than a century, the cathedral has played a central role in Denver’s religious and social life. When the cathedral was built, it was in Denver’s wealthiest neighborhood. John Mullen and Molly Brown were parishioners. By the 1960s, Capitol Hill had changed. The area around the cathedral probably counted more homeless residents than millionaires. The cathedral continued to keep its doors open to all during its operating hours. In 1970 rector James Rasby started a sandwich line. This provided people with at least one meal a day, six days a week.

    By the 1970s, the cathedral was starting to show its age. Renovations took place in 1974–75. These enlarged the sanctuary and plastered cracks. They improved the sound and lighting and modernized the wiring. In 1977 the Archbishop of Denver, James Casey, requested that the Vatican declare the newly renovated cathedral a minor basilica. This distinction is usually given to churches whose history, record of service, and architecture are outstanding. In 1979 Pope John Paul II honored the request. He made the Cathedral the first minor basilica approved during his pontificate. The Pope later celebrated Mass at the cathedral during the World Youth Day event in August 1993.

    The cathedral held its 100th anniversary Mass on October 27, 2012, and continues to serve as an active place of worship. It remains the heart of the local Catholic community. The cathedral has three daily masses and six Sunday masses, and its lunch program now serves more than 50,000 meals a year.

    Denver’s Cathedral was completed in 1912. Its full name is the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. It is on East Colfax Avenue, near the state capitol. The building is elegant. Its tall spires make it a landmark. It is known as the “Pinnacled Glory of the West.” In 1979 Pope John Paul II honored the cathedral.

    Trials and Tribulations

    Denver’s Catholic community grew along with the city. The first Catholic parish was started in 1870. Father Joseph Machebeuf said the first mass at Saint Mary’s church. It was at Fifteenth and Stout Streets. Machebeuf became a Bishop in 1873. Churches for bishops are Cathedrals. That meant that little Saint Mary’s was now a Cathedral. But it was too small and plain. Denver needed something more grand.

    In 1880 a group was formed to plan a new cathedral. It would be dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The new church would be named the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Progress was very slow. Bishop Nicholas Matz decided on a site. But before the land was bought, the Panic of 1893 stopped the plans.

    The project started again around 1900. John K. Mullen, a businessman, donated money. He got other Catholics to donate and they bought land. The lots were at the corner of Logan Street and East Colfax Avenue

    Pinnacled Glory of the West

    In 1905 Hugh McMenamin became a parish assistant. In July 1906, the cornerstone was laid. Money was a problem again. But McMenamin led the way forward.

    The cathedral was blessed on October 23, 1921. Six archbishops and thirteen bishops came. A huge crowd of almost 150,000 people stood outside.

    Cathedral Basilica

    When the cathedral was built, it was in Denver’s best neighborhood. John Mullen and Molly Brown went to church there. By the 1960s, Capitol Hill had changed. The area around the cathedral had many homeless. Most of the millionaires were gone. The cathedral welcomed everyone. In 1970 the rector, James Rasby, started a sandwich line. This gave people at least one meal a day.

    By the 1970s, the cathedral needed repairs. In 1977 the Archbishop of Denver was James Casey. He asked that the Vatican call the cathedral a minor basilica. These are important Catholic churches. In 1979 Pope John Paul II said yes. The Pope celebrated Mass at the cathedral in August 1993 during World Youth Day.

    The cathedral’s 100th anniversary was on October 27, 2012. It still serves as an active place of worship. It remains the heart of Denver’s Catholic community. The cathedral has three masses a day. On Sundays, there are six. The lunch program serves more than 50,000 meals a year.