St. John Cantius in Chicago
| St. John Cantius Church | |
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The limestone facade of St. John Cantius Church
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 St. John Cantius Church
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| Coordinates: 41°53′48.6″N 87°39′12″W / 41.896833°N 87.65333°W | |
| Location | Chicago |
| Country | USA |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.cantius.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Founder(s) | Congregation of the Resurrection |
| Dedication | St. John Cantius |
| Dedicated | September 4, 1893 |
| Consecrated | December 11, 1898 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Adolphus Druiding |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1893 |
| Completed | 1898 |
| Construction cost | $130,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Length | 230 feet (70 m) |
| Width | 107 feet (33 m) |
| Materials | Rusticated Limestone and Brick |
St. John Cantius Parish (Polish: Parafia Świętego Jana Kantego) is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago known for its solemn liturgies and rich program of sacred art and music.
Along with such monumental religious edifices as St. Mary of the Angels, St. Hedwig's or St. Wenceslaus, it is one of the many Polish churches that dominate over the Kennedy Expressway.
The unique baroque interior has remained intact for more than a century and is reminiscent of the sumptuous art and architecture of 18th century Kraków. Of all the Polish Cathedral style churches in Chicago, St. John Cantius stands closest to downtown. The imposing 130 feet (40 m) tower is readily seen from the nearby Kennedy Expressway and is a familiar landmark in Chicago's West Town neighborhood.
In 2013, St. John’s completed an ambitious restoration, returning the lavish interior to its original splendor.
The steady arrival and settlement of Polish immigrants in the area, known as “Expatriate Poland” (Polish: Wygnana Polska), necessitated the foundation of a new parish which would become Saint John Cantius Church. In 1892, these immigrants petitioned the pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka, the first Polish church in the Archdiocese, for a new church. Fr. Vincent Barzyński of the Congregation of the Resurrection, saw the validity of this request and immediately purchased several lots at Fry and Carpenter Streets for the sum of $75,000.
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