331 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Cathedral of the Madeleine
A Romanesque Revival cathedral in Salt Lake City, the Catholic center in a predominantly Latter-day Saint city, noted for its rich interior murals and restored organ.
Building a Catholic cathedral in Salt Lake City took a certain amount of nerve. The city was founded by Latter-day Saints and their temple dominates the skyline. But the Catholic community, largely Irish and Italian miners and railroad workers, wanted their own landmark, and they got it. The Cathedral of the Madeleine was completed in 1909 in Romanesque Revival style, with sandstone walls, a square bell tower, and an interior that surprises everyone who walks in. The murals and painted decoration covering the walls and ceiling were added in the early twentieth century and restored in the 1990s in a major renovation that also rebuilt the organ and refinished the woodwork. The effect is warm and colorful — gold leaf, deep blues, saints and angels in every arch and lunette. The carved wooden bishop's chair is a piece of serious craftsmanship. The stained-glass windows from the Zettler studios in Munich have a clarity and richness that puts them among the best in the American West. The cathedral hosts a well-regarded concert series, and the acoustics in the nave are genuinely excellent.
Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City
Style: Romanesque Revival
What to See
The interior is the star. Look up immediately upon entering — the painted ceiling of the nave is layered with decorative patterns, saints, and gilded details that most visitors do not expect in Utah. The stained-glass windows in the clerestory and side aisles repay close attention; they were made by Franz Mayer & Co. and Zettler, both premier Munich studios. The baptistery near the entrance has a carved stone font and its own set of murals. The sanctuary is richly decorated with marble, mosaic, and woodwork. If the organ is being played during your visit, stay and listen — the instrument was rebuilt during the 1990s restoration and the room amplifies it beautifully. The Stations of the Cross are painted panels set into the walls rather than sculptural reliefs.
Pilgrim Notes
The cathedral is on South Temple Street, about three blocks east of Temple Square. It is open daily and free to enter. Mass is offered daily in English and Spanish. The cathedral is an easy walk from the TRAX light rail City Center stop. Tours are self-guided but docents are sometimes available after Sunday Mass. The concert series, especially the Lenten and Advent programs, draws large crowds — check the schedule if your visit coincides. The location on South Temple means the LDS Temple and cathedral are almost neighbors, which makes for an interesting architectural and theological comparison.