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Co-Cathedral of Saint Thomas More (Tallahassee, Florida)

January 01, 1970

The Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More is a Catholic cathedral located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. Along with the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pensacola it is the seat of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.[1] St. Thomas More also provides the Catholic Campus Ministry at Florida State University.

Co-Cathedral of
Saint Thomas More
30°26′47.22″N 84°17′51.88″W / 30.4464500°N 84.2977444°W / 30.4464500; -84.2977444
Location900 W Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, Florida
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitewww.cocathedral.com
History
StatusCo-Cathedral
DedicationThomas More
Architecture
GroundbreakingDecember 4, 1965
Completed1967
Specifications
MaterialsBlock & Stucco
Administration
DiocesePensacola-Tallahassee
Clergy
Bishop(s)William Albert Wack
RectorFather Timothy Holeda

The Altar Relics of the Co-Cathedral are of Saint Felix and Saint Felicity.[2]

History edit

Early History edit

The present-day Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More has its origins intertwining with Blessed Sacrament parish, and the 1930 establishment of a Florida State College for Women Newman Club chapter, which later became Florida State University (FSU).[3] The Newman Club needed a designated meeting place, even when the Florida State College for Women was converted into the current Florida State University (FSU) in 1947.

It would not be until 1950, that the club acquired. Edward Conradi's residence, located on the intersection of Park Avenue and Macomb Street, just to the east of FSU grounds. This acquisition marked a significant milestone as it provided the Newman Club with its first permanent student center, featuring amenities such as a live-in housemother, a student chapel, and meeting rooms which ensured accessibility and fostered a sense of community among its members.[2] However, the small chapel at the Newman Center soon was outgrown due to the rapidly growing number of catholic students, with lines of students waiting for mass running outside the building a common occurrence on Sundays.[4]

Construction edit

The first plans for the new student center were sent in 1963 to pastor Patrick Madde of the local Blessed Sacrament parish, who suggested enlarging the chapel to accommodate more parishioners.[2] Designs underwent modifications until 1965 when George W. Stickle drafted the final blueprint.

His design features a chapel and an adjacent student center, with a kitchen, rooms, and offices for three priests, a lounge, and a library. Spanning half a city block, the combined complex features a towering bell, 95 feet high, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Spanish at St. Augustine. The architecture is a two-story cruciform layout building with a modified mid-century Spanish design and a distinctive red-tiled gabled roof. The front facade features seven elongated narrow, rounded arches reminiscent of English and Gothic Styles.[5]

Central to the chapel's appearance were its stained-glass windows, done in the dalle de verre style called by the architect the key to its beauty. These windows were designed by the French artist Jean Barillet, renowned for his work on restorations at cathedrals and Chartres. His masterpiece emphasized Christ as the focal point of the Christian faith, with the center windows portraying only the magnificent figure of Christ, illuminated in light, and the remaining windows featuring abstract colors and designs.[6]

Finally, on December 4, 1965, the groundbreaking of the construction occurred, with Demetree Builders of Orlando overseeing construction until completion two years later. The chapel's official dedication was on October 8, 1967, by Bishop Hurley.[2]

Transition to Co-Cathedral edit

The chapel status would be short lived, as in 1968, the new Bishop of St. Augustine, Paul Tanner, would elevate it to the status of a student parish, where it would stay for seven years. On October 7, 1975, six days after the formation of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, the parish was made the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More.


Former and Current Clergy edit

Bishops edit

  1. René Henry Gracida (1975-1983)
  2. Joseph Keith Symons (1983-1990)
  3. John Mortimer Smith (1991-1995)
  4. John Huston Ricard, S.S.J. (1997-2011)
  5. Gregory Lawrence Parkes (2012-2016)
  6. William Albert Wack, C.S.C. (2017–present)

Rectors edit

  • William A. Kerr (1975-1984)
  • James Amos (1984-1987)
  • Charles W. Roland (1987-1990)
  • Micheal W. Tugwell (1990-1999) & (2003-2013)
  • Dennis O'Brien (2000)
  • C. Slade Crawford (2000-2003)
  • John Cayer (2013-2022)
  • Timothy Holeda (2022-present)

Other Clergy edit

  • Lawrence Cunningham
  • William Stahler 1969
  • Edward Dempsy
  • Alfonso Figueroa
  • James Gilligan
  • Sean O'Sullivan
  • J. Franklin Murray, S.J.
  • Francis Duda
  • Ronald H. Brown, T.O.R.
  • Peter LeMaire
  • Joseph Dinh-Tran Ngan
  • Guy Morin
  • Paul A. Blaes
  • David McCreanor
  • Stephen C. Bosso
  • H. Michael Wever
  • Robert A. Washa
  • William P. Brown
  • Gerald Vossen
  • Paul E. Stewart
  • James J. Flaherty
  • Peter N. Wood
  • Guy T. Wilson, S.T.
  • Robert C. Miller
  • John Struzzo, C.S.C.
  • Paul Lauwers
  • Oscar E. Sarmiento
  • Roy E. Marien
  • August A. Rakoczy
  • Isidore Nguyen Baky
  • Thomas J. Guido
  • John Boat
  • Silvai R. Selvappan (Fr. Cross)
  • Joseph Kayany
  • Sebastian Naslund, O.S.B.
  • Thomas Collins
  • Michael Shaw
  • E. J. MacKinnon
  • Francisco Valdovinos
  • Michael Flynn
  • John Cayer
  • Father Eddie Jones
  • Father Chris Le Blanc
  • Christian Winklejohn
  • Timothy Holeda

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More". GCatholic. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  2. ^ a b c d Silvia, A. (Editor). The History of St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral [Presentation]. Retrieved from http://www.cocathedral.com/history.html
  3. ^ “Catholic Student Club Elects New Leaders for Year.” Florida Flambeau (Tallahassee, Florida), May 12, 1932.
  4. ^ Haufler, Arline. “Expansion Overdue at Catholic Student Center.” Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida), October 29, 1966
  5. ^ “Catholic Student Center to be Erected Near FSU.” Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida), October 2, 1965
  6. ^ “History of the Co-Catherdral Churches.”Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida), November 2, 1975.


External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Co-Cathedral of Saint Thomas More (Tallahassee, Florida).
  • Official Cathedral Site
  • Catholic Student Union

January 01, 1970
cathedral, saint, thomas, more, tallahassee, florida, cathedral, thomas, more, catholic, cathedral, located, tallahassee, florida, united, states, along, with, cathedral, sacred, heart, pensacola, seat, diocese, pensacola, tallahassee, thomas, more, also, prov. The Co Cathedral of St Thomas More is a Catholic cathedral located in Tallahassee Florida United States Along with the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pensacola it is the seat of the Diocese of Pensacola Tallahassee 1 St Thomas More also provides the Catholic Campus Ministry at Florida State University Co Cathedral ofSaint Thomas MoreShow map of FloridaShow map of the United States30 26 47 22 N 84 17 51 88 W 30 4464500 N 84 2977444 W 30 4464500 84 2977444Location900 W Tennessee St Tallahassee FloridaCountryUnited StatesDenominationRoman CatholicWebsitewww cocathedral comHistoryStatusCo CathedralDedicationThomas MoreArchitectureGroundbreakingDecember 4 1965Completed1967SpecificationsMaterialsBlock amp StuccoAdministrationDiocesePensacola TallahasseeClergyBishop s William Albert WackRectorFather Timothy Holeda The Altar Relics of the Co Cathedral are of Saint Felix and Saint Felicity 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early History 1 2 Construction 1 3 Transition to Co Cathedral 2 Former and Current Clergy 2 1 Bishops 2 2 Rectors 2 3 Other Clergy 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEarly History edit The present day Co Cathedral of St Thomas More has its origins intertwining with Blessed Sacrament parish and the 1930 establishment of a Florida State College for Women Newman Club chapter which later became Florida State University FSU 3 The Newman Club needed a designated meeting place even when the Florida State College for Women was converted into the current Florida State University FSU in 1947 It would not be until 1950 that the club acquired Edward Conradi s residence located on the intersection of Park Avenue and Macomb Street just to the east of FSU grounds This acquisition marked a significant milestone as it provided the Newman Club with its first permanent student center featuring amenities such as a live in housemother a student chapel and meeting rooms which ensured accessibility and fostered a sense of community among its members 2 However the small chapel at the Newman Center soon was outgrown due to the rapidly growing number of catholic students with lines of students waiting for mass running outside the building a common occurrence on Sundays 4 Construction edit The first plans for the new student center were sent in 1963 to pastor Patrick Madde of the local Blessed Sacrament parish who suggested enlarging the chapel to accommodate more parishioners 2 Designs underwent modifications until 1965 when George W Stickle drafted the final blueprint His design features a chapel and an adjacent student center with a kitchen rooms and offices for three priests a lounge and a library Spanning half a city block the combined complex features a towering bell 95 feet high commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Spanish at St Augustine The architecture is a two story cruciform layout building with a modified mid century Spanish design and a distinctive red tiled gabled roof The front facade features seven elongated narrow rounded arches reminiscent of English and Gothic Styles 5 Central to the chapel s appearance were its stained glass windows done in the dalle de verre style called by the architect the key to its beauty These windows were designed by the French artist Jean Barillet renowned for his work on restorations at cathedrals and Chartres His masterpiece emphasized Christ as the focal point of the Christian faith with the center windows portraying only the magnificent figure of Christ illuminated in light and the remaining windows featuring abstract colors and designs 6 Finally on December 4 1965 the groundbreaking of the construction occurred with Demetree Builders of Orlando overseeing construction until completion two years later The chapel s official dedication was on October 8 1967 by Bishop Hurley 2 Transition to Co Cathedral edit The chapel status would be short lived as in 1968 the new Bishop of St Augustine Paul Tanner would elevate it to the status of a student parish where it would stay for seven years On October 7 1975 six days after the formation of the Diocese of Pensacola Tallahassee the parish was made the Co Cathedral of St Thomas More Former and Current Clergy editBishops edit Rene Henry Gracida 1975 1983 Joseph Keith Symons 1983 1990 John Mortimer Smith 1991 1995 John Huston Ricard S S J 1997 2011 Gregory Lawrence Parkes 2012 2016 William Albert Wack C S C 2017 present Rectors edit William A Kerr 1975 1984 James Amos 1984 1987 Charles W Roland 1987 1990 Micheal W Tugwell 1990 1999 amp 2003 2013 Dennis O Brien 2000 C Slade Crawford 2000 2003 John Cayer 2013 2022 Timothy Holeda 2022 present Other Clergy edit Lawrence Cunningham William Stahler 1969 Edward Dempsy Alfonso Figueroa James Gilligan Sean O Sullivan J Franklin Murray S J Francis Duda Ronald H Brown T O R Peter LeMaire Joseph Dinh Tran Ngan Guy Morin Paul A Blaes David McCreanor Stephen C Bosso H Michael Wever Robert A Washa William P Brown Gerald Vossen Paul E Stewart James J Flaherty Peter N Wood Guy T Wilson S T Robert C Miller John Struzzo C S C Paul Lauwers Oscar E Sarmiento Roy E Marien August A Rakoczy Isidore Nguyen Baky Thomas J Guido John Boat Silvai R Selvappan Fr Cross Joseph Kayany Sebastian Naslund O S B Thomas Collins Michael Shaw E J MacKinnon Francisco Valdovinos Michael Flynn John Cayer Father Eddie Jones Father Chris Le Blanc Christian Winklejohn Timothy HoledaSee also editList of Catholic cathedrals in the United States List of cathedrals in FloridaReferences edit Co Cathedral of St Thomas More GCatholic Retrieved 2011 09 26 a b c d Silvia A Editor The History of St Thomas More Co Cathedral Presentation Retrieved from http www cocathedral com history html Catholic Student Club Elects New Leaders for Year Florida Flambeau Tallahassee Florida May 12 1932 Haufler Arline Expansion Overdue at Catholic Student Center Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee Florida October 29 1966 Catholic Student Center to be Erected Near FSU Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee Florida October 2 1965 History of the Co Catherdral Churches Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee Florida November 2 1975 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Co Cathedral of Saint Thomas More Tallahassee Florida Official Cathedral Site Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola Tallahassee Official Site Catholic Student Union Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Co Cathedral of Saint Thomas More Tallahassee Florida amp oldid 1224561884, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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