About the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusetts:
Designed in Gothic Revival Style by architect Patrick Keely,The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and one of the largest Catholic churches in New England. It was built to replace an earlier, smaller cathedral (designed by Charles Bulfinch) on Franklin Street that had become inadequate for the rapidly growing Catholic population, especially Irish immigrants. Construction began with groundbreaking on April 29, 1866 (delayed by the Civil War) and was funded largely by community donations. m It is built primarily of local Roxbury puddingstone with gray limestone trim and seats about 1,700–2,000 in the main level. The church was formally dedicated on December 8, 1875.
Notable features include its historic Hook & Hastings pipe organ (Opus 801, 1875), one of the largest surviving instruments by the firm as well as extensive stained-glass windows (one of New England’s largest collections). The Cathedral also houses a Relic of the True Cross (associated with the cathedral’s name)
A major interior renovation completed in 2019 (about $26 million) that brightened the space, improved accessibility, and updated systems while preserving historic elements
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1973) as part of the South End District
The cathedral has hosted major occasions, including a requiem Mass for President John F. Kennedy (1964), a prayer service with Pope John Paul II (1979), a visit by Mother Teresa (1988), and an interfaith prayer service after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing attended by President Barack Obama.
It serves a diverse community with Masses and sacraments in English, Spanish, Latin (Extraordinary Form), and the Ge’ez Rite (also called the Ethiopian Rite, or Abyssinian Rite).
Due to years of neglect, the exterior of the building was nearly black and the stone had been damaged by years of close proximity to a train line. In 2025 it then went through a 30 million dollar renovation, restoring its original beauty.
Traveling to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusetts:
The Cathedral is located in Boston’s South End.
Address: 1400 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118.
Phone: +1 617-542-5682.
Visit the official website of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusetts