Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, Georgia
(United States
) is the mother-church for the nearly one million members of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. In addition to the Cathedral, the grounds also house a school. The Cathedral is located on Peachtree Road, between East Wesley Way and Peachtree Way, in Atlanta's uptown Buckhead
district.
The Cathedral was designed by architect Henry D. Dagit, Jr. in the Gothic Revival form. The inside of the Cathedral is composed of marble
with stained glass
windows by Willet Stained Glass Studios of Philadelphia. The building itself was designated the "Most Beautiful Building in Atlanta" by Architectural Record Magazine in 1939.
A singular honor came to the parish on January 5, 1937, when Pope Pius XI
issued a proclamation changing the Diocese of Savannah, organized in 1850, to the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta. This decree elevated our parish to Co-Cathedral status, equal in rank to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah.
A special year for the parish occurred in 1956. On July 2, the Diocese of Atlanta was created. The Co-Cathedral was raised to the status of the Cathedral of Christ the King
with the Francis E. Hyland installed in the fall as first Bishop
of Atlanta. He brought with him from Philadelphia Fr. Michael Regan to be his secretary. Fr. James Boyce became the first Chancellor of the new diocese. Sr. St. Raphael became principal for both high school and primary school.
At present, the Cathedral
is one of the ten largest parishes in the United States with over 5,500 families. Christ the King School also occupies the property, with approximately 800 students.
Sunday Mass is held at
Eucharistic Adoration
is available 24 hours per day in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (facing Peachtree Street).
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
(United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) is the mother-church for the nearly one million members of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. In addition to the Cathedral, the grounds also house a school. The Cathedral is located on Peachtree Road, between East Wesley Way and Peachtree Way, in Atlanta's uptown Buckhead
Buckhead (Atlanta)
Buckhead is the uptown district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, comprising approximately the northern one-fifth of the city. Buckhead is a major commercial and financial center of the Southeast, and it is the third-largest business district in Atlanta, behind Downtown and Midtown...
district.
History
Christ the King was established as a parish in 1936. Early masses were held in the mansion that occupied the land, but the house was eventually torn down to make way for the cathedral building. The cost of the original land was $35,000.The Cathedral was designed by architect Henry D. Dagit, Jr. in the Gothic Revival form. The inside of the Cathedral is composed of marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
with stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows by Willet Stained Glass Studios of Philadelphia. The building itself was designated the "Most Beautiful Building in Atlanta" by Architectural Record Magazine in 1939.
A singular honor came to the parish on January 5, 1937, when Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
issued a proclamation changing the Diocese of Savannah, organized in 1850, to the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta. This decree elevated our parish to Co-Cathedral status, equal in rank to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah.
A special year for the parish occurred in 1956. On July 2, the Diocese of Atlanta was created. The Co-Cathedral was raised to the status of the Cathedral of Christ the King
Christ the King
Christ the King is a title of Jesus based on several passages of Scripture. It is used by most Christians. The Roman Catholic Church, together with many Protestant denominations, including the Anglican Churches, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists, celebrate the Feast of Christ the King on the...
with the Francis E. Hyland installed in the fall as first Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Atlanta. He brought with him from Philadelphia Fr. Michael Regan to be his secretary. Fr. James Boyce became the first Chancellor of the new diocese. Sr. St. Raphael became principal for both high school and primary school.
At present, the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
is one of the ten largest parishes in the United States with over 5,500 families. Christ the King School also occupies the property, with approximately 800 students.
Mass schedule
Mass is held daily (M-F) at 6:45am, 8:00am, 12:10pm and 5:30pm.Sunday Mass is held at
- 7:30am
- 9:00am (with Children's Choir)
- 10:30am (with the Cathedral Choir)
- 12:00pm
- 1:30pm (in Spanish)
- 5:00pm (Life Teen in Parish Hall)
- 5:30pm (with the Cathedral Ensemble)
- 7:00pm (contemporary)
Eucharistic Adoration
Eucharistic adoration
Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic Church, and in a few Anglican and Lutheran churches, in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored by the faithful....
is available 24 hours per day in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (facing Peachtree Street).