The cathedral is the main structure in a complex that also includes a three-story rectory, a two-story service wing, and the adjacent Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The cathedral has a seating capacity of 500 worshippers.
Design At the beginning of the 20th century, Chatard hired the architectural firm of
Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell from New York City to design Saints Peter & Paul Cathedral. The lead architect was
William L. Coulter, who designed the cathedral, rectory, and adjacent chapel in the Classical Revival-style. During the design process, the cathedral plan was modified to reduce its overall length and width and eliminate its domes and two side chapels. William W. Renwick took over sole responsibility for the cathedral project around 1900. The Indianapolis architectural firm of
D. A. Bohlen and Son served as local supervisors for the project. In a sanctuary renovation in 1936, the floor was extended over the original stairway and covered in
marble, the cathedrals walls were faced with marble, and a new
baptistry was installed. The renovation also redesigned Renwick's original stations of the cross. The cathedral's organ, originally installed in 1907, was rebuilt. The renovations of 1985 and 1986 included a major redecoration of the sanctuary and structural repairs to the exterior and interior. Changes to the sanctuary included • relocation of some of the statuary • a new color scheme, flooring, and lighting • removal of the original pews • addition of a white oak, marble-topped altar • replacement of the marble cathedra with a white oak one • a
lectern to replace the marble
pulpit Artwork In 1940, a benefactor donated a painting entitled
Madonna of the Forest to the cathedral. It was attributed to the 15th century Venetian artist
Giovanni Bellini. It was restored and removed for safekeeping in 1974. The painter Edgar S. Cameron of
Chicago originally painted the upper apse in an early
Byzantine style. Christ was at the center, flanked by
Mary (mother of Jesus) and the Apostle Peter on the left and Saint Joseph and the Apostle Paul on the right. In 1936, the archdiocese covered these murals with glass mosaics that depicted
Christ in Majesty, flanked by the Apostles Peter and Paul. The sanctuary also includes a copy of
Antonio Montauti's sculpture
Pietà.
Rectory The main entrance to the rector from Meridian Street opens into a wide interior corridor. The first floor's original plan had double parlors on the north, a reception room and bishop's study on the south, and a dining rom at the end of the corridor in the building's service area. The second floor included the bishop's quarters on the west and bedrooms on the north and east sides. The third floor, which was later remodeled into bedrooms, included four storage rooms with a large library at the center.
Blessed Sacrament Chapel The Blessed Sacrament Chapel measures by and has a main entrance flanked by double columns that support an arched roof. The interior is decorated in Venetian mosaics. Bernard Mellerio painted eleven angels on the walls, based on the angels painted by
Fra Angelico that reside in the
Museo Nazionale di San Marco in Florence, Italy. The art-glass designs once included the
Sacred Heart flanked by angels, the
Blessed Sacrament, and a christogram. With the exception of the Sacred Heart window, the diocese replaced them in 1923 with new designs. These included depictions of the
Last Supper,
Christ and his disciples, the village
Emmaus as mentioned in the New Testament, a
monstrance and angels. ==Membership==