Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville
| The Minor Basilica of Saint Lawrence | |
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A view of the front of the Basilica from the street
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Asheville, North Carolina, United States |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| District | Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte |
| State | North Carolina |
| Status | Minor Basilica |
| Leadership | Very Rev. Wilbur N. Thomas V.F., Rector |
| Website | www |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Rafael Guastavino |
| Architectural style | Spanish Baroque |
| Completed | 1905 |
The Minor Basilica of St. Lawrence the Deacon & Martyr is a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, United States. The basilica was designed and built in 1905 by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino along with his fellow architect R. S. Smith and the Roman Catholic community of Asheville.Pope St. John Paul II elevated the status of the basilica to minor basilica in 1993. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only basilica in western North Carolina. Its dome has a span of 58 by 82 feet (18 by 25 m) and is reputed to be the largest, freestanding, elliptical dome in North America. It is located in the Downtown Asheville Historic District.
The inside of the basilica is adorned with statues of saints, including St. Lawrence, St. Cecilia, St. Rose of Lima, St. Patrick, and St. Peter the Apostle. The Daprato Statue Company made the statues in Italy. The high altar is made from Tennessee marble. Above the high altar in the sanctuary is a Spanish wood carving of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Apostle mourning at the crucifixion of Christ. Behind the wood carving of the crucifixion and covering the entire wall of the apse are polychrome, terra cotta, ornamental partitions of the Four Evangelists and Archangels St. Raphael and St. Michael.
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