Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
- Architect
- Napoleon LeBrun
- Year
- 1846
- Style
- Renaissance Revival
- City
- Philadelphia, PA
The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is the see church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, designed by Napoleon LeBrun with construction beginning in 1846 and finishing in 1864. It's the largest Catholic church in Pennsylvania, seating 2,000, and the Vatican designated it a minor basilica in 1976. It replaced two earlier cathedrals the diocese had used since 1810, after growth made Saint John the Evangelist Church inadequate.
the building
A dome added later. The basilica's dome and Palladian facade weren't part of LeBrun's original design; they were added after 1850 by John Notman, layering a second architect's work onto the building before construction finished in 1864.
Painted by Brumidi. The interior decoration was done by Constantino Brumidi, giving the cathedral's interior a painted program distinct from its exterior design.
the style
The cathedral is Renaissance Revival, expressed through LeBrun's basic design and reinforced by the Palladian facade and dome John Notman added after 1850, twin contributions in a related classical vocabulary.
More on Renaissance Revivalthe architect
Napoleon LeBrun designed the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, with construction starting in 1846; John Notman later contributed the dome and Palladian facade added after 1850. No further biographical detail on LeBrun is documented here.
significance
The cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a minor basilica by the Vatican in 1976. It has hosted papal masses by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis and remains the largest Catholic church in Pennsylvania.
nearby
- One Logan Square
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- Arch Street Presbyterian Church
- Suburban Station
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