Historical Highlights of the
Cathedral Parish of Saints Peter & Paul

1789 - December 8: First Mass celebrated in Providence.

1813 - Providence became a station to be visited at regular intervals and Mass was celebrated in an old wooden schoolhouse on Sheldon Street, near Benefit. The building was blown down in the great gale of 1815.

1832 - Frances Hye obtains a prime parcel of land. It was located on High Street, later called Weybosset Street.

1836 - The small Catholic community formulates plans for a new church building.

1837 - December 10: Parish of SS. Peter and Paul, Providence was established with the celebration of the first Mass in the yet uncompleted church.

1847 - April 11: Consecration of the "old" SS. Peter and Paul church, Providence as a Cathedral following completion of additional wings.

1878 - Cornerstone laid for present Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.

1886 - June 11: Bishop Hendricken dies. His Funeral Mass is the first Mass celebrated in the unfinished Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.

1889 - Consecration of present Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.

1959 - Construction of Interstate Route 95 followed by an encroachment of the Rhode Island Hospital expansion led to a reduction in the parish community. The parish would never be quite the same.