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Interesting Facts
| • The
first Saint Andrew Church was built on Monroe Avenue in
1850. It was dedicated on August 11, 1850. It was and
continues to be referred to as the “old stone church”.
• The church bell, purchased in 1869, played both
the secular – fire calls – and the spiritual
– especially the Angelus, three times daily. It
was later installed in the “new” church on
Sheldon Ave. The bell cracked in 1901, severely limiting
its ability to ring out.
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• The cornerstone for the current Saint Andrew Church
structure was laid on May 30, 1875. One and a half years later
the building was completed. Saint Andrew Church was dedicated
on December 17, 1876
• The foundation of the current Saint Andrew Church was
built with limestone from the Grand River used originally in
the “old stone church” on Monroe Avenue. To support
the structure of the building, the foundation was laid 11 feet
deep and 3 to 8 feet thick.
• The architecture of the cathedral is Gothic and is
characterized by pointed arches and vaulted ceilings.
• In 1882, by papal brief, the Diocese of Grand Rapids
was formed.
• Most Reverend Henry J. Richter was named bishop of
the diocese. He selected Saint Andrew Church to be the cathedral.
• On April 22, 1883, Bishop Richter was installed bishop
of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and the church officially became
the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, Mother Church of the diocese.
• The building originally measured 136 feet long and
59 feet wide. It currently measures 209 feet in length.
• Sunday evening, March 24, 1901 lightening hit the steeple
at 9:30 pm during a parish Mission. The initial check revealed
no damage, but by 2:00 am the church was in flames.
• After the fire of 1901, the building took on its characteristic
cross shape when the north and south transepts were added.
• During the restoration of 1901, the one lower spire
on the south side of the church was replaced with two small
spires. The highest spire measures 192 feet and includes the
95 foot tower walls, the 85 foot steeple and the 12 foot gilded
cross with arms that extend 3 ½ feet each way. The steeples
are covered with slate.
• Ten bells were installed in the tower in 1909. On April
10, 1909, The Grand Rapids Herald declared the bells the finest
in the state. Made of copper and tin, they weigh between 250
pounds to 3,050 pounds. They were manufactured by the McShane
Bell Foundry in Baltimore. As was custom, each bell was named:
Bell No. 1 – St Cecilia (paid for by the Altar Society
at a cost of $1,225)
Bell No. 2 – St. Patrick (paid for by the Holy Name Society
a cost of $850)
Bell No. 3 – Holy Guardian Angels (paid for by school
children at a cost of $610)
Bell No. 4 – St. Ann (paid for by Mrs. Ann McIntyre at
a cost of $500)
Bell No. 5 – St. Joseph (paid for by Mrs. Archibald McDonnell
at a cost of $375)
Bell No. 6 – St. Richard (paid for by Mr. and Mrs. Richard
Kibble at a cost of $800)
Bell No. 7 – Immaculate Conception (paid for by the Young
Ladies Sodality at a cost of $250)
Bell No. 8 – St. John (paid for by Mrs. Catherine Byrne
at a cost of $225)
Bell No. 9 – St. Mary Leonessa (paid for the Wernette
and Neuman families at a cost of $200)
Bell No. 10 – St. Anthony (paid for by Friends of St.
Anthony at a cost of $175)
• In the decade or so following the installation of the
bells, the stained glass windows were installed.
• In April of 2006 the cathedral bells were removed for
restoration. The bells were refurbished and reinstalled in fall
2006 with the estimated value of $300,000.
