Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Location in Illinois
39°47′36″N 89°38′55″W / 39.7934°N 89.6487°W / 39.7934; -89.6487
Location	524 E. Lawrence Avenue Springfield, Illinois
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	cathedral.dio.org
History
Status	Cathedral
Founded	1857
Dedication	October 14, 1928
Architecture
Architect(s)	Joseph William McCarthy
Style	Greek Revival
Groundbreaking	1927
Completed	1928
Specifications
Number of spires	One
Spire height	135 feet (41 m)[1]
Materials	Mankato Kasota stone
Administration
Diocese	Springfield in Illinois
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki
Rector	Rev. Brian Alford

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The cathedral, for which the cornerstone was laid on August 14, 1927, was dedicated on October 14, 1928. The cathedral complex is built in a modified Greek Revival architectural style.^[2]

Description

The cathedral was built and consecrated under the leadership of James Aloysius Griffin, fourth bishop of the diocese. Griffin was the first bishop to be based in Springfield, as the diocese had previously been seated in Quincy, Illinois, then Alton, Illinois).^[2]

The cathedral complex is faced with Kasota limestone, also called "Mankato Kasota stone," a golden limestone quarried in Mankato, Minnesota. Like many cathedral complexes, it also contains working space for the bishop and staff. An elementary school building forms the southern component of the complex. The cathedral itself is consecrated to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and is under the patronage of the Blessed Mother.^[2]

The cathedral is the second building in Springfield to be consecrated to the Immaculate Conception, the first being a Catholic church in use from 1858 until 1928. When the seat of the diocese moved to Springfield in 1923, it needed a larger structure to serve as cathedral. After completion of the cathedral, the nearby Lincoln-era church was de-consecrated and demolished.^[2]