Information from the Madison Public Library Clippings File, Folders "Churches (M) - St Raphael Cathedral. Prepared by Anne Vandenburgh, March, 2005.
This was the oldest Catholic church in the City of Madison.
James Duane Doty (the former territorial governor, who had been influential in locating the capitol in Madison) on Nov 15, 1842, gave a warranty deed to the Rt. Rev. Peter Paul Lefevre, Roman Catholic bishop of Detroit, for $1. The deed was for block 67, containing 10 lots.
The first building on the site was constructed in 1848. It was 20 ft wide and 24 ft long and made of wood, on the site of the 1946 rectory. A red brick addition was constructed a year later.
Construction on the present building made of Madison sandstone was begun four years later. After the basement was completed, construction was discontinued for several years.
On May 29, 1854, Bishop John Henni came from Milwaukee to lay the cornerstone of St. Raphael church.
In 1855 the German speaking members of the congregation decided to build Holy Redeemer church and left St. Raphael.
In 1882 land was bought on Fairchild St, to complete the current property.
Cathedral
In 1946, Pope Pius XII created the Madison diocese from part of the Milwaukee diocese and part of the La Crosse diocese. At the same time, he designated that St. Raphael's be the Cathedral for the Madison diocese. It consists of Dane, Marquette, Green Lake, Columbia, Jefferson, Green and Rock counties. It was the fifth diocese in the State.
The first bishop was the Most Rev. William Patrick O'Connor. At the dedication on Mar 12, 1946, O'Connor said "The church dedicated to God in honor of St. Raphael Archangel.we elevate to the rank and dignity of a Cathedral Church will all the rights, honors, privileges, and insignia which other cathedral churches throughout the world enjoy."
The building was substantially remodeled in 1954 to meet the needs of a cathedral. The Bishop's Throne was dedicated in March 1955. $500,000 to remodel. The Madison sandstone walls, a yard thick, were removed to double the size of the sanctuary. Since there was no foundation, the builders braced the floor and poured concrete foundations 12 feet at a time. An air conditioned parish hall was also constructed, as well as a new two-story building to house sacristies, a bapistry, and chapels in accordance with its new stature as a cathedral
There was another renovation in 1973, to bring the cathedral into line with the liturgical renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council. The cost was $89,354 plus $10,185 for the scaffolding.
Spires
The spire constructed in 1881 cost $8,000. In the remodeling in 1954, aluminum paint was put on the steeple and floodlights added to illuminate at night. .In 2004 it was discovered that the spire didn't fit the base, which contributed to the cross falling off fifty years earlier.
In Nov 2004, it cost $1 million to raise the new spire, as part of multi-million refurbishment. The spire was designed by Architect Kelly Thompson of Facility Engineering Inc. of Madison. Components, fabricated of stainless steel and cedar shingle, were made by Heather & Little of Toronto and Vulcan Supply in Burlington. VT. The new spire was 104 feet, including the cross. The pre-cast pieces were assembled in the cathedral parking lot. It was clad with copper to look like shingles.
Major fund raising activities were anticipated for the planned refurbishment of the interior, which was a multi-million dollar project.
School
The first school was held in the old church building since 1850, staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1870, a new school bldg was erected at Henry and West Wash, staffed by Dominican sisters. In 1909 the parish school was started, and the Father Pettit school was completed in 1911.
Fire
In the early morning hours of Mar 14, 2005, the cathedral burned.