Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Memphis, Tennessee)

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Location in Tennessee
35°07′33″N 90°00′19″W / 35.12588°N 90.00515°W / 35.12588; -90.00515Coordinates: 35°07′33″N 90°00′19″W / 35.12588°N 90.00515°W / 35.12588; -90.00515
Location	1695 Central Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Website	www.iccathedral.org
History
Founded	1921
Architecture
Architect(s)	Richard J. Regan
Style	Spanish Colonial Revival
Completed	1938
Specifications
Capacity	1,200
Length	173 feet (53 m)
Width	106 feet (32 m)
Number of domes	Two
Materials	Brick
Administration
Diocese	Memphis
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Most Rev. Martin Holley
Rector	Rev. Valentine N. Handwerker
Deacon(s)
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Rectory, School, and Convent.
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Built	1922 (rectory, convent, and school)
Part of	Central Gardens Historic District (#82004040)
Added to NRHP	September 9, 1982

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic cathedral in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Memphis. The parish buildings are contributing properties in the Central Gardens Historic District. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Immaculate Conception parish was established by Bishop Thomas Sebastian Byrne of the Diocese of Nashville in 1921. It was the ninth parish in Memphis. Msgr. Dennis J. Murphy was appointed as the parish’s first pastor. He built a three-story brick building that served as a combination church and school. It continues to serve the parish today as its school building. The Sisters of Mercy made up the school’s first faculty.

Construction of the present church building was begun in 1927. Richard J. Regan of Regan and Weller Architects was chosen to design the church. The lower crypt was initially built and used as the church for ten years before the upper church was built. The church was dedicated on July 31, 1938. The parish’s second pastor, Msgr. Francis D. Grady, had the decorative design work completed on the church’s interior. Msgr. Merlin F. Kearney had the high school buildings east of the church built in the 1950s and 1960s. Immaculate Conception High School for girls was also begun at this time.

Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Memphis in January 6, 1971. Immaculate Conception was named as the new diocese’s cathedral. A major renovation of the cathedral was completed in 2001 and was dedicated by Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD on December 8 of that year. In 2011 there were 800 families in the parish and 430 students in the school