Tags

  • Catholic Church
  • Landmark Historical Place
  • Landmark & Historical Place

Description

The Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family is a Roman Catholic cathedral and basilica dedicated to the Holy Family located around City Square in Nairobi, Kenya. The basilica is the seat of the Archdiocese of Nairobi.HistoryThe congregation of the cathedral was originally composed of railway construction workers who lived in a camp nearby what would become the first Nairobi Railway Station. Under the administration of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Brother Josaphat, C.S.S.P (Holy Ghost Missionary) was entrusted with the building of a church in 1904. With a sitting capacity of 300–400 people, it was the first stone building in Nairobi. The first baptism took place in 1906, the first marriage in 1908, and first confirmation in 1923.The first Archbishop of Nairobi was John Joseph McCarthy who was appointed in 1953 and he would serve until 1971 when he retired.Dorothy Hughes, who was brought up in Kenya, designed the current building in 1960. The cathedral was constructed by the British company Mowlem. The modernist cathedral features abstract stained glass in stainless steel frames. The cathedral's specification included details in carrara marble and seating for 3,000 to 4,000 people. This is ten times the number of the original stone church. The building is 98 feet high and features a large cross. Hughes' design features eight different chapels in addition to the two main halls. There is a main altar with a large crucifix and a large sanctuary, as well as two side altars.

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