St. John's Cathedral, Fresno

St. John's Cathedral, Fresno

St. John's Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno, located at 2814 Mariposa Street. The parish was established in 1882. In 1878, Catholic settlers in the area recognized the need for a church and began to raise funds. The Central Pacific Railroad donated two lots and Bishop Francisco Mora y Borrell of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles purchased two adjacent lots. Construction on the sanctuary began early in 1880 and the structure was completed in November. Bishop Mora dedicated the church to St. John the Baptist in May 21, 1882. It was a brick structure with a 90 ft (27 m) steeple and served the five Catholic families in the area.

By 1902, the congregation outgrew its home and began plans for a larger building. After Easter services on March 30, workers began to demolish the old building with the intent of constructing a new church on the same site. However, the pastor insisted on a new site at Mariposa and R Streets. Although parishoners complained that the proposed site was beyond the edge of town, the pastor prevailed. The cornerstone was laid August 3, 1902 and Archbishop George Montgomery dedicated the new sanctuary June 7, 1903.

The church was designed in a Gothic-Romanesque style by Thomas Bermingham and constructed of red brick. The facade features a triple entry framed by two square towers with spires. Above the entry is a small rose window.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

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St. John's Cathedral on Map

Sight Name: St. John's Cathedral
Sight Location: Fresno, USA (See walking tours in Fresno)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Fresno, California

Create Your Own Walk in Fresno

Create Your Own Walk in Fresno

Creating your own self-guided walk in Fresno is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Fresno Downtown Walking Tour

Fresno Downtown Walking Tour

Part of California's San Joaquin Valley, Fresno is a relatively small city which does, however, contain a number of attractions, of historical and cultural importance, concentrated in the downtown area. A harmonious combination of old and modern architecture complements the setting. Take this orientation walk and see some of the most interesting sights of Downtown Fresno.

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles