About the Basilica of Saint Fidelis in Victoria, Kansas:
Designed by architect John T. Comès of Pittsburgh (with modifications and supervision by Joseph Marshall of Topeka). Commonly known as the Cathedral of the Plains (or Basilica of the Plains), is a striking Romanesque-style Catholic. Volga German immigrants (many from the Herzog area) built the church (1908-1911) through community effort. Families contributed wagon loads native limestone quarried about 7 miles south of Victoria, and nearly everyone 12 and older participated in construction (each family was expected to provide six wagon loads).
The church features a cruciform (cross-shaped) layout with twin towers, a rose window, a stone statue of Saint Fidelis on the facade, impressive stained-glass windows, and detailed Romanesque elements. The Basilica is 220 feet long, 110 feet wide at the transept, 75 feet wide at the nave; ceiling height of 44 feet; with twin towers that rise 141 feet. The walls are up to 3–4 feet thick at the base. It was originally noted for seating about 1,100 people, making it one of the largest churches (by capacity) west of the Mississippi at the time of completion.
In 1912, William Jennings Bryan visited and nicknamed it the “Cathedral of the Plains.” Actually, it is not a cathedral (the seat of a bishop), but the name stuck due to its grandeur on the Kansas prairie.
Saint Fidelis was elevated to a Minor Basilica by Pope Francis in 2014, the first in Kansas (and the 78th in the U.S.). It displays a tintinnabulum (bell) and ombrellino (umbrella) as papal symbols.
It serves as a parish church (part of the Diocese of Salina) and welcomes over 16,000 visitors annually.
Traveling to the Basilica of Saint Fidelis in Victoria, Kansas:
Victoria is a small city in northwestern Kansas along Interstate 70. It is situated roughly 11 miles east of Hays, 129 miles northwest of Wichita, and 243 miles west of Kansas City.
Address: 900 Cathedral Avenue, Victoria, KS 67671 (easily visible from Interstate 70)
Phone: (+1) 785-735-2777
You can view a great video on their website.
Visit the official website of the Basilica of Saint Fidelis in Victoria, Kansas.