Country United States Founded 1847 Status Cathedral Dedication Michael Architect Patrick Keely | Denomination Roman Catholic Materials Brick Material Brick Groundbreaking 1860 | |
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Location 254 State Street
Springfield, Massachusetts Bishop(s) Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts Similar Basilica of St Stanislaus, St Stanislaus Parish - A, Great Smoky Mountains, St Michael's Cathedral, Great Smoky Mountain | ||
St. Michael's Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, United States established in 1847.
History
The parish was established in 1847 as the church of St. Benedict after years of local Catholics fighting Protestant opposition to establish a parish. The congregation purchased a former Baptist church which served as its first home. For the first five years it had no pastor when the Rev. Michael P. Gallagher was assigned to serve the parish. Gallagher began construction of the current sanctuary on State Street in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1860, based on plans from noted Brooklyn architect Patrick Keely. In recognition of Fr. Gallagher's work, the parish changed its name to St. Michael at this time. Fr. Gallagher died in 1869 and is buried at the church entrance. When Pope Pius IX established the Diocese of Springfield in 1870, St. Michael's church became its cathedral.
The structure was expanded in 1996, with addition of the Bishop Marshall Center at the rear of the church. The center includes a chapel that seats 60 people, a TV studio for daily broadcast of the Mass, a parish hall that can seat 120 people and kitchen and is handicap accessible.