A 2017 aerial photo of the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston.
Celebrating the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
If the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul looks imposing, there’s good reason.
The 80-year-old structure, at 43,060 square feet and 300 feet in length, is the second largest Roman Catholic church in New England. Authorities say only the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston is slightly larger.
That Boston church measures 364 feet in length and 90 feet at its transepts, and can accommodate about 2,000 worshippers on the main level. It is 120 feet tall.
The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is 300 feet long and can seat 1,800 on its main level (and an additional 210 in the lower church). Its eight spires reach 168 feet into the sky.
More interesting facts about the iconic edifice that defines Lewiston:
* The structure includes a sub-cellar, cellar, 110-year-old lower church and 80-year-old upper church.
* The French Gothic-style church has a steel skeleton covered in granite. The plans called for 30,000 cubic feet of granite, all sourced from a quarry in Jay, 1.7 million bricks and 325 tons of steel.
* It cost about $800,000 to build the basilica over a 30-year period, which would translate to millions of dollars today.
While the basilica is large and its 168-foot spires appear to touch the sky, it is dwarfed — at least in height — by many other churches.
The tallest church in New England is said to be the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut, at 281 feet.
The tallest church in the United States is said to be Riverside Church in New York City, at 392 feet.
And the tallest church in the world is said to be Ulm Minster, a Lutheran Gothic church in Germany, at 530 feet — three times the height of Lewiston’s basilica.
A 2017 aerial photo of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston.
Celebrating the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
The Sun Journal is celebrating the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston, which was completed in 1936-1937. For a year, we are taking a close look at the iconic structure, its history and even some of the people who built it. We will explore rooms behind the high altar, crawl along the catwalk, explore the cellars and rooftop carvings, and peek into drawers and cabinets in the sacristy. We’ll show you historical photos and compare them with current images of the basilica. We’ll also speak with basilica experts and comb through historical documents to uncover some of the 80-year-old church’s enduring myths and mysteries.
The entire series is being archived at sunjournal.com/basilica.
A 2017 aerial photo of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston.