Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, we can all agree on one thing: Indy is home to some spectacular historic cathedrals.
Here’s the history of a few of the city’s awe-inspiring abbeys.
Christ Church Cathedral
Constructed: 1857
Added to National Register of Historic Places: 1973
Can you picture Monument Circle with five churches on it? Believe it or not, that was the scene in 1838 — and just one remains standing today. This English Gothic Revival church (which replaced an original simpler construction on the same site) was designed by architect William Tinsley and cost between $32,438 and $37,750 to build — which translates to up to $1.37 million today.
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Constructed: 1871
Added to National Register of Historic Places: 1980
This eclectic cathedral has elements of French Gothic + American Romanesque Revival architecture. When the cornerstone was laid in 1867, it was the largest church in Indiana.
Roberts Park United Methodist Church
Constructed: 1876
Added to National Register of Historic Places: 1982
This Romanesque Revival church was designed by Diedrich A. Bohlen and constructed of Indiana limestone. The total cost of the lot + construction was estimated at $128,000, or $3.78 million today.
Cyrus Place (formerly known as The Lockerbie Square United Methodist Church)
Constructed: 1882
This Gothic Revival building was also designed by Diedrich A. Bohlen. The congregation that once inhabited its halls left in 2013, and the building now serves a wedding and private events venue.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Constructed: 1912
Added to National Register of Historic Places: 1977
Another stunning Gothic Revival addition to Indy’s cathedrals, this church was designed by Herman J. Gaull for a German-speaking congregation that had first formed in 1856.
What other churches should be on our list? We pray you’ll let us know.
