Wichita's Mother Church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (also known as St. Mary's cathedral) is an amazing Romanesque architectural gem in downtown Wichita.
From the Church website:
"The architect of our cathedral is Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, a well known architect of the early 20th century. He designed many monumental buildings and cathedrals. To start your tour, step outside and walk to the northwest corner of the cathedral. There you will find a very important stone: the cornerstone. This rose granite foundation was laid in 1906, with the cornerstone dedicated on Oct. 17, 1906. The inscription reads:
Ecclesia Immaculatae Conceptionis B.M.V.
Die XVII Octobris A.D. MCMVI
The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The 17th day of October in the year of Our Lord 1906
Although on this important day the foundations of the cathedral were laid, the foundation was allowed to settle for two years before construction of the rest of the cathedral proceeded. This was done for practical reasons, but perhaps we can also draw an important spiritual lesson from this: firm foundations, whether in building or in the spiritual life allow the resulting edifice to rise to glorious heights. After working on the cathedral for another four years, it was finally dedicated on Sept. 19, 1912 by the Archbishop of Baltimore and the nation’s first cardinal, His Eminence James Gibbons. More than 30 bishops were present for the Mass of dedication." [end]
The long-awaited dedication weekend was filed with 2 days of processions, speechifying, solemn celebrations, prayers, and general hoopla. Some details of 18 Sep 1912 events, as printed in the Emporia Weekly Gazette: (
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"Emporia Weekly Gazette September 19, 1912, page 8
DEDICATION AT WICHITA
Wichita- Kan., Sept. 18.—Dignitaries from all parts of the United States were here today to attend the dedication of St. Mary's Cathedral, said to be the most magnificent church edifice in the Southwest. At the head of the list was His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, primate of the Catholic Church in America. The ceremonies opening the cathedral which, exclusive of furnishings, cost $220,000 to build, will extend over two days.
Cardinal Gibbons, accompanied by a number of archbishops, arrived here on a special train, and was conducted immediately to the residence of Bishop Hennessy, where the party was tendered a reception at 8:30 o'clock. The dedication service began at 9 o'clock. Cardinal Gibbons was the officiating prelate. Bishop John J. Hennessy acted as celebrant of the mass, and Archbishop John J. Clennon was the orator of the occasion. After the service, luncheon was served to the visiting clergy at the Wichita Commercial Club.
At 2:30 this afternoon a parade, headed by a uniformed body of Knights of Columbus, was scheduled to pass in review before Cardinal Gibbons, occupying a reviewing stand In front of the Cathedral. For tonight, a lecture by Archbishop Ireland, of St. Paul, was scheduled.
The church edifice is practically complete. In addition to the cost of the building, the marble altar. The pipe organ and the pews were installed at an approximate cost of $22.500 by members of the church. The Catholics of Wichita gave half of the cathedral while the churches of the diocese contributed the balance.
The building stands in one of the most beautiful residence districts of the city. It is constructed of Bedford stone, 169 feet long and 100 feet wide at the transepts. From the floor to the top of the little dome is 135 feet. It is in the Romanesque-Renaissance style." [end]