St John's Cathedral and area

St. John's Cathedral
St. John's Hall School
St. John's Rectory 

On one corner of the intersection stands St. John's Cathedral, the most imposing structure in the district and the one for which the area is named today. Two other buildings on or near this intersection are closely related to the cathedral: the St. John's Hall School (directly across Mariposa from the front of the cathedral) and the St. John's Rectory (next door to the cathedral)

The parish was established in 1882 serving five Catholic families By 1902, the parish had outgrown the church. The pastor decided that the new church should be built outside of town. Considered by some parishioners to be too far from town when it was constructed in 1902, the St. John's Cathedral soon became the heart of prestigious residential neighborhood. Today it is the oldest surviving church building in Fresno. It was designed by Thomas Bermingham in the Gothic Romanesque style. In 1922 St. John's became the cathedral for the newly-established Diocese of Monterey-Fresno, and in 1967 for the Diocese of Fresno.

St. John's Hall School served as Fresno's parochial school from its construction in 1926 until the 1960s. Today it is used as a community hall for St. John's Cathedral. It is an excellent example of brick Collegiate Gothic architecture, an unusual style in Fresno. The architect was Emmet G. Martin.

St. John's Rectory was designed by Julius Fabel, who is perhaps best known as a builder of amusement park roller coasters, including those in Santa Cruz and Long Beach.  This building served as Fresno's parochial school from its construction in 1926 until the 1960s. Today it is used as a community hall for St. John's Cathedral across the street. It is an excellent example of brick Collegiate Gothic architecture, an unusual style in Fresno.

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From the St John’s Cathedral site

t. John’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno California. The parish was established in 18 82. In 1878, Catholic settlers in the area recognized the need for a church and began to raise funds. The Central Pacific Railroad donated two lots and Bishop Francisco Mora Borrell of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles who purchased two adjacent lots. Construction on the sanctuary began early in 1880 and the structure was completed in November. Bishop Mora dedicated the church to St. John the Baptist in May 21, 1882. It was a brick structure with a 90 ft (27 m) steeple and served the five Catholic families in the area.

By 1902, the congregation outgrew its home and began plans for a larger building. After Easter services on March 30, workers began to demolish the old building with the intent of constructing a new church on the same site. However, the pastor insisted on a new site at Mariposa and R Streets. Although parishioners complained that the proposed site was beyond the edge of town, the pastor prevailed. The cornerstone was laid August 3, 1902 and Archbishop George Montgomery dedicated the new sanctuary June 7, 1903.

The church was designed in a Gothic-Romanesque style by Thomas Bermingham and constructed of red brick. The facade features a triple entry framed by two square towers with spires. Above the entry is a small rose window.

When the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno was split from the Diocese of Los Angeles-San D iego in 1922, St. John’s was selected as the Cathedral for the new Diocese. When Monterey and Fresno were further split in 1967, St. John’s became the seat of the new Bishop of Fresno.

1863

The first Mass in Fresno County was celebrated at Millerton in the spring of 1863 in the Old Courthouse, with the entire population attending. The Fresno Weekly Expositor for December 28, 1870 reminded the faithful that Father Dade would celebrate Mass at the Millerton Courthouse on Friday next, with the public cordially invited to attend.

1870

The October 21, 1873 baptismal entry of Johanna Ryan, daughter of Jerry Ryan and his wife, Kate Neary, is the earliest recorded religious service in what is now Fresno. Father Dade was the "precursor of the faith" in the desert that was to be Fresno and his followers raised a House of God, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, in the same wasteland of sand dunes and sagebrush that has become a city of trees. When the church was being built (in 1880), the site selected for the church on M and Fresno Streets was way out in the country. At that time, everything was being built on Front Street. Building costs for the church totalled $17,000, not including the site.

1880

At the time the church was built in 1880, there were only five Catholic families in Fresno and no resident Priest. Mrs. John Gearhart, mother of Congressman Btid W. Gearhart and Clara Williams, was the capable and faithful organist in the first church for many years. Mr. W.R. Price, a non-Catholic and father of Mrs. Russell Giffen, directed Saint John's choir with great efficiency in the early years of the parish. On March 18, 1885, Father Dempflin, a Dominican Missionary, made his first converts among the Indians of Table Mountain in the Friant district.

1890

The first Holy Cross Sisters came to Fresno on November 12, 1893. Less than one year later, they opened a select school called Saint Augustine's Academy. On October 24, 1894, the fair at Kutner Hall raised funds for the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Among those in charge of booths were Mesdames George St. Louis, Colin Chisholm, Frank Rowell, J. Weaver, J.W. Gearhart, John C. Hoxie, M. Norton, N.P. Justy, Rose Kennedy, Lizzie Dwyer, Hattie McDonald, Rose Bonitas, Hattie and Mary St. Louis, Josie Ryan, Susie Hill, Leonie Duquesne and Lillie Folin.

1900

Father McCarthy was convinced that the old location on M and Fresno Streets was no longer a suitable and fitting place to build the new and larger church, which was required due to the city's growth and development as well as future parish need.

1920

In 1902 the property on Rand Mariposa Streets opposite the Sisters' School was purchased. Despite opposition from parishioners who felt the site was too far away from the center of town, the first brick was laid on July 16, 1902. In 1903 the Sisters bought the convent academy from the parish for $5,500. This site is now the offices of architect William Patnaude. Our first Bishop was the Most Rev. John B. Mac Ginley. He was installed in July 1924. A serious cardiac condition caused him to resign in May 1932 and return to his native island where he died October 19, 1969. His vicar-general, then the Rt. Rev. Philip Scher, was consecrated Bishop of Monterey-Fresno on April 28, 1933. In 1924 there were 42  parishes, 22 missions, 11 parochial schools, two hospitals, 60 Priests and a Catholic population estimated at 50,000.