In the mid-nineteenth century, Lewiston had an influx of Roman CatholicFrench Canadians who came to work in the local textile mills. Their arrival created the need for a French-speaking priest. Initially, masses were held in the basement of Saint Joseph's Church, until the number of parishioners attending the masses reached 1,000. Because of the large number of French-speaking parishioners, the masses were moved to the nave of Saint John's on July 2, 1870. By 1871, the number of parishioners had grown too large even for Saint John's. The following year, the cornerstone of Saint Peter's was laid, and the dedication mass was said in 1873. In 1881, the Dominican Fathers of Lille, France, and the Province of Québec took over the administration of the church. In 1899, the first reference to Saint Peter and Saint Paul was made, when the Dominicans published their Album Historique, calling the parishes S. Pierre S. Paul de Lewiston, Maine. In 1902, the parish was split to create the Saint Louis church, across the river, in Auburn.[2]
By 1905, even after the split, the church had gained almost 10,000 parishioners. The old church had to be torn down, and the basement of the new church was finished in 1906. In 1907 and 1923, the Diocese of Portland requested that the parish be split, to create the parishes of Saint Mary's in 1907, and the Holy Cross and the Holy Family in 1923. Each time the parish divided, the money it had in its building fund to complete the church was also divided, delaying the top of the church from being built. Finally, in 1933, the Diocese of Portland allowed the parish to build the top part of the church. The church was finished on July 18, 1936, and was dedicated on October 23, 1938, to the saints the church whose name it bears, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. On July 14, 1983, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places, for being the second-largest church in New England. In 1986, the Dominicans handed the administration of the church back to the Diocese of Portland. In 1991, the upper church started a renovation project that ended in 2002 with the dedication of a new altar. From 2002 to 2007, the chapel under the church was renovated and reopened, just in time for Mardi Gras, and—incidentally—Lent.[2]
In a 2015 article in the Bangor Daily News, it was reported that the Church was one of the few remaining churches in Maine that still offered a Mass in French.[3] It was reported in the Portland Press Herald that an influx of French-speaking Catholic immigrants from central Africa have been a driving force in supporting the French-language mass.[4]
This organ is in center chambers at the front of the room with visible façade pipes or case front. It has 2 manuals, 3 divisions, 10 stops, 28 registers, 10 ranks, and 737 pipes. Manual compass is 61 notes. Pedal compass is 32 notes.[5]
Gallery Organ
This organ has 4 manuals, 5 divisions, 53 stops, 62 registers, 66 ranks, and 4,622 pipes. Manual compass is 61 notes. Pedal compass is 32 notes.[6] This organ is the largest church organ in Maine.
^ ab. Saints Peter and Paul Basilica. 2008-02-09. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05.
^Bayly, Julia; Harrison, Judy (1 April 2015). "'People have lost their sense of sin': Catholics in Maine cope with internal, external changes". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
^McGuire, Peter (July 3, 2016). "African immigrants drive French-speaking renaissance in Maine". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
^. The Organ Historical Society Pipe Organ Database. 2010-11-09. Archived from the original on 2019-06-18.
^. The Organ Historical Society Pipe Organ Database. 2013-07-17. Archived from the original on 2019-06-18.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Lewiston, Maine).
Home Page
History of St. Peter and St. Paul
Diocese of Portland Website
from the Maine Memory Network
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This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 15 November 2019 (2019-11-15), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
January 20, 2023
basilica, saints, peter, paul, lewiston, maine, basilica, peter, paul, redirects, here, other, buildings, basilica, peter, paul, dillingen, basilica, peter, paul, reichenau, basilica, saints, peter, paul, lewiston, maine, also, known, peter, paul, church, chur. Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul redirects here For other buildings see Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul Dillingen and Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul Reichenau The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston Maine also known as Ss Peter and Paul Church is a church which is a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland Basilica of Saints Peter and PaulThe Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul as seen from the front 44 5 53 376 N 70 12 44 2296 W 44 09816000 N 70 212286000 W 44 09816000 70 212286000 Coordinates 44 5 53 376 N 70 12 44 2296 W 44 09816000 N 70 212286000 W 44 09816000 70 212286000Location27 Bartlett St Lewiston MaineCountryUnited StatesDenominationRoman Catholic ChurchHistoryDedicatedOctober 23 1938ConsecratedOctober 4 2004ArchitectureArchitect s Noel Coumont amp Timothy G O ConnellStyleGothicCompletedJuly 18 1936SpecificationsCapacity2 200Length316 feet 96 m Width110 feet 34 m Height167 feet 51 m Number of spires8AdministrationParishPrince of PeaceSs Peter and Paul ChurchU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of MaineShow map of the United StatesArea1 acre 0 40 ha NRHP reference No 83000447 1 Added to NRHPJuly 14 1983 Contents 1 History 2 Organs 2 1 Sanctuary Organ 2 2 Gallery Organ 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditIn the mid nineteenth century Lewiston had an influx of Roman Catholic French Canadians who came to work in the local textile mills Their arrival created the need for a French speaking priest Initially masses were held in the basement of Saint Joseph s Church until the number of parishioners attending the masses reached 1 000 Because of the large number of French speaking parishioners the masses were moved to the nave of Saint John s on July 2 1870 By 1871 the number of parishioners had grown too large even for Saint John s The following year the cornerstone of Saint Peter s was laid and the dedication mass was said in 1873 In 1881 the Dominican Fathers of Lille France and the Province of Quebec took over the administration of the church In 1899 the first reference to Saint Peter and Saint Paul was made when the Dominicans published their Album Historique calling the parishes S Pierre S Paul de Lewiston Maine In 1902 the parish was split to create the Saint Louis church across the river in Auburn 2 By 1905 even after the split the church had gained almost 10 000 parishioners The old church had to be torn down and the basement of the new church was finished in 1906 In 1907 and 1923 the Diocese of Portland requested that the parish be split to create the parishes of Saint Mary s in 1907 and the Holy Cross and the Holy Family in 1923 Each time the parish divided the money it had in its building fund to complete the church was also divided delaying the top of the church from being built Finally in 1933 the Diocese of Portland allowed the parish to build the top part of the church The church was finished on July 18 1936 and was dedicated on October 23 1938 to the saints the church whose name it bears Saint Peter and Saint Paul On July 14 1983 the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places for being the second largest church in New England In 1986 the Dominicans handed the administration of the church back to the Diocese of Portland In 1991 the upper church started a renovation project that ended in 2002 with the dedication of a new altar From 2002 to 2007 the chapel under the church was renovated and reopened just in time for Mardi Gras and incidentally Lent 2 In a 2015 article in the Bangor Daily News it was reported that the Church was one of the few remaining churches in Maine that still offered a Mass in French 3 It was reported in the Portland Press Herald that an influx of French speaking Catholic immigrants from central Africa have been a driving force in supporting the French language mass 4 Organs EditThe church has two pipe organs both made by Casavant Freres which were both dedicated in 1938 Opus 1587 above the sanctuary and Opus 1588 in the gallery Both are electro pneumatic Sanctuary Organ Edit This organ is in center chambers at the front of the room with visible facade pipes or case front It has 2 manuals 3 divisions 10 stops 28 registers 10 ranks and 737 pipes Manual compass is 61 notes Pedal compass is 32 notes 5 Gallery Organ Edit This organ has 4 manuals 5 divisions 53 stops 62 registers 66 ranks and 4 622 pipes Manual compass is 61 notes Pedal compass is 32 notes 6 This organ is the largest church organ in Maine See also Edit Side view of the Basilica Diocese of Portland Basilicas in the United StatesReferences Edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b Church s Page History of Saints Peter and Paul Saints Peter and Paul Basilica 2008 02 09 Archived from the original on 2008 07 05 Bayly Julia Harrison Judy 1 April 2015 People have lost their sense of sin Catholics in Maine cope with internal external changes Bangor Daily News Retrieved 9 July 2015 McGuire Peter July 3 2016 African immigrants drive French speaking renaissance in Maine Portland Press Herald Retrieved September 9 2016 OHS Database Instrument Details The Organ Historical Society Pipe Organ Database 2010 11 09 Archived from the original on 2019 06 18 OHS Database Instrument Details The Organ Historical Society Pipe Organ Database 2013 07 17 Archived from the original on 2019 06 18 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Lewiston Maine Home Page History of St Peter and St Paul Diocese of Portland Website Maine Public Brodcating Network video on the Basilica Slide show of images related to La Basilique Lewiston from the Maine Memory NetworkListen to this article 5 minutes source source This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 15 November 2019 2019 11 15 and does not reflect subsequent edits Audio help More spoken articles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Lewiston Maine amp oldid 1123149375, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
