St. James Cathedral

Specialties

We are the Cathedral for the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle and its Archbishop, the Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain. We are also a parish church for a vibrant faith community with a long history that reaches back to Seattle’s early days.

We are an inner-​city parish with an outreach to many who live on the edge of poverty and loneliness. We are a diverse community that welcomes, accepts, and celebrates the differences we all bring. We exist in the heart of the city, yet sometimes our parishioners come from considerable distances to worship here.

St. James Cathedral is a crossroads where ideas and challenges both old and new are explored in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Cathedral is also the center for many cultural and ecumenical events which both reflect and help to shape a vital metropolitan community.

Above all, St. James Cathedral is a community of prayer.

History

Established in 1907.

Built in 1907, St. James Cathedral is an impressive Italian Renaissance-​style building whose twin towers soar to a height of 167 feet. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be canonized, worshiped in the Cathedral in its early years. In 1994, a nationally acclaimed restoration and renovation completely renewed the beauty of this beloved Seattle landmark, transforming it into a dynamic space for the celebration of the Church’s liturgy as well as for ecumenical, cultural, and civic events.

Artistic highlights of St. James include magnificent ceremonial bronze doors and tabernacle by German artist Ulrich Henn; an award-​winning Shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary; and a large collection of stained glass by renowned artists Charles Connick and Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen. The Cathedral Chapel is home to a remarkable 15^th-​century Renaissance altarpiece by Neri di Bicci.