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Cathedral of the Incarnation (Nashville, Tennessee)

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Cathedral of the Incarnation
The cathedral in 2013
The cathedral in 2013
36°9′2.88″N 86°47′58.56″W / 36.1508000°N 86.7996000°W
Location 2015 West End Ave.
Nashville, Tennessee
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website cathedralnashville.org
History
Status Cathedral
Dedication Incarnation
Consecrated 1914
Architecture
Architect Fred Asmus
Style Italianate
Groundbreaking 1907
Completed 1914
Specifications
Materials Limestone
Administration
Diocese Diocese of Nashville
Clergy
Bishop J. Mark Spalding
Rector Fr. John Hammond

The Cathedral of the Incarnation, located at 2015 West End Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States, is the cathedral seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville.

History

During the second half of the 19th century, the Diocese of Nashville was served by the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Seven Sorrows, dedicated in 1845.[1] By the beginning of the 20th century, Saint Mary's had become inadequate to serve the growing diocese's needs.[2]

In 1902, Bishop Thomas Sebastian Byrne purchased a property near Vanderbilt University for a new cathedral. Construction of a rectory was completed in 1908 and then the cathedral school was finished.[2] Byrne hired the architect Fred Asmus of Nashville to design the building. The Basilica of San Martino ai Monti in Rome inspired the design of the cathedral itself. However, Asmus copied the bell tower from the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso in Rome.[3]

Construction of the cathedral started in 1910. The diocese used the first floor of the school for masses while the cathedral was being built. It was completed in early 1914.[2]

The Cathedral of the Incarnation was dedicated on July 26, 1914. In 1937, Bishop William L. Adrian replaced the existing windows with painted art glass, enlarged the sanctuary and replaced the flooring with a composite material. The interior was renovated again in 1987, with another extension of the sanctuary by10 feet (3.0 m), the installation of prismatic glass windows, a repainting, and the replacement of the composite flooring with tile.[4]

In March 2019, the diocese began a major renovation of the cathedral interior. The project included repainting walls and restoring moldings.

See also

References

  1. Back to citation Rust, Randal. "St. Mary's Catholic Church". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  2. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 "THE CATHEDRAL". cathedralnashville. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  3. Back to citation "Cathedral of the Incarnation (Nashville, TN)". Daprato Rigali Studios. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  4. Back to citation Kollar, Leena (December 29, 2017). "The Most Beautiful Churches in Nashville". Culture Trip. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
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