of Boston and the seat of our Cardinal Archbishop. Located in the South End neighborhood of the city,
the Cathedral serves a vibrant and diverse community which includes English and Spanish congregations,
as well as Ge’ez Rite Catholics, a German Apostolate, and a large and thriving Traditional Latin Mass
community (Extraordinary Form).
Designed by the nineteenth century Irish-American ecclesiasitical architect Patrick Keely, the Cathedral
of the Holy Cross boasts a length of 364 feet, a width of 90 feet, and a height of 120 feet. In 1860,
Bishop John Fitzpatrick realized that Boston had outgrown the cathedral on Franklin Street, but the
Civil War interrupted plans for building a replacement. Ground was finally broken on April 29, 1866.
The rites of dedication for New England's largest church were performed on December 8, 1875 by
Archbishop John J. Williams, Boston's first archbishop. The Cathedral can seat just over 1700 people.
Constructed in the Gothic Revival style, it utilizes both Roxbury puddingstone and gray limestone.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross contains an 1875 Hook and Hastings pipe organ, the largest, and
arguably finest, instrument ever built by that company.
Click here for a slide gallery, and please explore our
website for more information about this living landmark.
Better yet, pay us a visit!
