Basilica Shrine of St. Mary (Wilmington, North Carolina)

Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary
Location Wilmington, North Carolina
Country United States
Denomination Catholic Church
Website thestmaryparish.org
History
Status Minor Basilica/Parish
Dedication Mary, mother of Jesus
Dedicated April 28, 1912
Architecture
Functional status Active
Architect(s) Rafael Guastavino
Style Spanish Baroque
Groundbreaking May 20, 1908
Completed 1912
Specifications
Number of spires Two
Materials Brick
Administration
Diocese Raleigh
Clergy
Bishop(s) Sede vacante
Pastor(s) Rev. Robert J. Kus
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Location 412 Ann St.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Coordinates 34°13′55.9″N 77°56′35.9″W / 34.232194°N 77.943306°W / 34.232194; -77.943306Coordinates: 34°13′55.9″N 77°56′35.9″W / 34.232194°N 77.943306°W / 34.232194; -77.943306
Part of Wilmington Historic District (#74001364[1])
Added to NRHP May 6, 1974

The Basilica Shrine of St. Mary is a Minor Basilica in the Catholic Church located in Wilmington, North Carolina,[2] in the Diocese of Raleigh. It was included as a contributing property in the Wilmington Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[3]

Architecture

Its historic main church is of the Spanish Baroque style. It was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino, who is known for his work on the Biltmore Estate, Basilica of St. Lawrence, and Duke Chapel. The church was constructed without wooden or steel beams and without nails, instead using brick tile.

History

inside the basilica

Wilmington’s Roman Catholic origins are with the 1820 organization of the Charleston Diocese in South Carolina under Bishop John England. He visited Wilmington regularly from 1821 to 1843. On January 1, 1845, the Rev. Thomas Murphy (1806–1863) was appointed Pastor of the Congregation of Wilmington, North Carolina. Under his supervision, the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle was built and completed in 1847. The Church was named a pro-cathedral when Cardinal James Gibbons took up residence as Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina in 1868. St. Thomas Church closed in 1966 and the parish merged with St. Mary Parish. The former church building is now known as Saint Thomas Preservation Hall.

In the 1890s Father Christopher Dennen encouraged the formation of a new church. On May 20, 1908 ground was broken for the Saint Mary Church. The cornerstone of the church was laid on October 21, 1909 by Bishop Leo Haid, who was at the time the Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina. The first Mass held at the church was on December 17, 1911. On April 28, 1912 the parish was dedicated as St. Mary Pro-Cathedral by Cardinal Gibbons,[4] but was returned to being a parish church when the Diocese of Raleigh was formed, and took over the area of Wilmington. The new cathedral of the Diocese of Raleigh, Sacred Heart Cathedral, is located in Raleigh, and the cathedral for the Diocese of Charlotte, Cathedral of St. Patrick, is in Charlotte.[5]

On February 25, 2005 a petition was presented to the Diocese of Raleigh to consider naming St. Mary Church a Shrine.[6]

On August 2, 2013, the Holy See conferred the title of minor basilica on the church, which then became known as the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary.[7]

School

The Basilica Shrine of St. Mary also hosts the St. Mary Catholic School. The school hosts children from grades kindergarten to eighth grade. The school was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1869 under the request of Bishop James Gibbons. The school was named Academy of the Incarnation. Another school, for poor girls, called St. Peter's Parochial School for Girls was also created. These schools were later closed.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ http://www.thestmaryparish.org/
  3. ↑ "Wilmington Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  7. ↑ http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130804/ARTICLES/130809859?Title=St-Mary-Catholic-Church-now-a-shrine-and-a-basilica
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
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