Although the skyline of the city has changed with the competition to build the tallest building in Grand Rapids, one item remains the same – the many steeples of the churches that are the foundation of our ancestors who settled along the banks of the Grand River.
Each of these represents our past and the immigrants that settled in our area to give Grand Rapids the nickname “Furniture City”.
In this series you will follow the Steeple Chase throughout this great city and view the awe inspiring architecture of our forefathers. The distinct architectural styles represent the great churches of Europe from which these immigrants fled to find a new life in the United States.
This is not meant to promote any one religion, but to show how all have blended together within the City of Grand Rapids to make this one great place to live.
Cathedral of St. Andrew
In 1833, among the Native Americans’ cornfields on the west bank of the Grand River, Father Frederic Baraga established St. Mary’s Mission which included a small church, rectory and school building. Two years later, a new church building was erected under the guidance of Father Andreas Viszoczky on Monroe Avenue and renamed St. Andrew after his patron saint. Completed in 1850 from Grand River limestone, it was the largest building in town.
With the growing population, this new church was soon too small and in 1875 a new church was built on Sheldon Boulevard. The new church was completed in 1876. The diocese of Grand Rapids was established under Pope Leo XIII in 1882 and Henry J. Richter was named its first bishop in 1883. He chose St. Andrew church as his cathedral and it was officially consecrated as such in April 1883.
In 1901, a lightning-fire struck the cathedral. As the building was restored, it was also expanded to meet the continued growing needs of the community. In 1961-63, additional expansions took place with the addition of the Ambrose Chapel wing. During this time, Maple Street from Sheldon to Division was closed off to provide green space around the cathedral.
The sanctuary was expanded again in 1979-80 to include a vesting and gathering area. In 2000, after a three year makeover, the current Cathedral you see today was completed with renovations to the baptismal pool, stained glass and bas-relief Stations of the Cross. In 2002, a pipe organ was installed.
It is believed that St. Andrews was the first church to televise Mass services and in the 1960’s, a television studio was added.
In 2009, Piazza Secchia was constructed at the entrance to the Cathedral that is patterned after the piazza on Capitoline Hill in Rome which was designed by Michelangelo.
The entrance also pays homage to its humble beginnings with a statue of Father Frederic Baraga. (source: http://cathedralofsaintandrew.org/about-us/cathedral-parish/cathedral-history)