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Catedral San Juan Bautista

Catedral San Juan Bautista is an Episcopal cathedral located in the Santurce district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It serves as the seat of the Diocese of Puerto Rico and was established in the early 20th century, with its current building completed in 1930.

Key Facts

  • The first service for the Mission of St. John the Baptist was held on March 12, 1899.
  • St. John's became a parish on Christmas Eve 1901, with Rev. James Van Buren as its first rector.
  • The cornerstone for the congregation's first church was laid on December 26, 1902.
  • Plans to relocate the cathedral to Santurce were proposed in 1928.
  • Groundbreaking for the present church occurred on February 22, 1929.
  • The current cathedral building was completed in February 1930.
Catedral San Juan Bautista
Construction Period
1929-1930
Patron Saint
John the Baptist
Century Built
City
San Juan
Established Year
1899

About Catedral San Juan Bautista

Catedral San Juan Bautista, also known as the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, is an Episcopal cathedral located in the Santurce district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It holds the distinction of being the seat of the Diocese of Puerto Rico.

History and Construction

The origins of the cathedral trace back to the Mission of St. John the Baptist, which held its inaugural service on March 12, 1899, in Old San Juan. The mission was formally organized as a parish on Christmas Eve of 1901, with the Rev. James Van Buren appointed as its first rector. The congregation laid the cornerstone for its initial church building on December 26, 1902.

As Old San Juan evolved into a commercial hub and its residents began to move to other areas, the need for a new location became apparent. In 1928, Bishop Charles Colmore proposed relocating St. John's, along with St. Luke's Church, to new sites. The following year, discussions centered on moving St. John's and St. Catherine's Training School for Women to Santurce, with the aspiration that St. John's Day School and the rectory would follow. The groundbreaking ceremony for the present cathedral structure took place on February 22, 1929, and its construction was completed by February of the subsequent year, marking the establishment of the cathedral in its current location.

Source: Wikipedia ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the first service held for the Mission of St. John the Baptist?

The first service for the Mission of St. John the Baptist took place on March 12, 1899. This initial service was held in a hall located on the plaza in Old San Juan.

When did St. John's officially become a parish?

St. John's was established as a parish on Christmas Eve of 1901. Rev. James Van Buren, who arrived in Puerto Rico in February 1901, became its first rector.

Where is the current Catedral San Juan Bautista located?

The current Catedral San Juan Bautista is situated in the Santurce district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. This location was chosen after plans to relocate from Old San Juan were made.

When was the current cathedral building completed?

The groundbreaking for the present church took place on February 22, 1929, and the building was completed the following February. Therefore, the current cathedral was finished in 1930.