• Construction finish: 1912
• Designed by: Olle J. Lorehn
• Type: Holy Place
• Stories: 3

>20 February, 2004 - Preservation Texas names this building one of the 13 most endangered in the state.

There are 14 comments.

  Please do not tear down this historic Cathedral. Houston has torn down too many historic buildings already. My roots are deeply tied to this Church. My father was baptized here in 1900 and married my mother here in 1930 and my husband and I were married here in 1955. This church is too beautiful to lose. They should have use that money on the needy poor instead of tearing this down and building another.

Carolyn Ivy Shimek - Friday, January 2nd, 2009 @ 12:06pm  

  It disheartens me in the extreme to think that this beautiful and historic church could be destined for demolition! It ought to depress anyone who values beauty that so little already remains of Houston's fine architectural past. Let's not let another luminous page of our city's artistic history be torn out and discarded without a spirited protest! Such wanton destruction of an otherwise structurally sound historic building would be entirely unthinkable in Europe. It certainly sends the wrong message about how we value our artistic heritage. How can we expect civic pride to flourish here if we continue to desecrate the past!

Dr. Robert Megna - Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 @ 12:29am  

  We must preserve the old cathedral and not allow it to be torn down. There is a hundred plus years of history in that church. I was baptisted there in 1961 and my daughter got married there in 2004. Do not destroy this beautiful Houston landmark. Help save the Cathedral!

Vanessa Burzynski - Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 @ 12:00am  

  Me and my wife to be were hoping too have our wedding inside the old Sacred Heart. However, church officials told me that Cardinal DiNardo has asked them not to schedule any weddings or masses in the old Co-Cathedral. I brought my wife to be to the old Sacred Heart back in 2002, and she fell in love with it. She told me that one day we were going to get marry in this church in front of God and our friends and family. I guess her dreams won't be coming true. Its sad to see such a beautiful church not being use and going to waste. Our family also has a history with the old church, my brother, sister, and I receive our First Communion and Confirmation at the 1912 Sacred Heart.

Freddy Ramos - Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 @ 10:45am  

  This is a very historical church and has saved many peoples lives. Its a place of God and it shouldn't be destroyed just because people wants something new....Its a landmark!

Avery Wayne - Friday, June 27th, 2008 @ 11:09am  

  Yes, I agreed with everyone here. This church is so beautiful and should be preserved. We must unite as one and fight the Arc-Diocese on their plans to tear down the old Sacred Heart. I also believe that this is the house of God, and no man should have to right to destroy it. God please us, Amen.

Derek - Friday, June 27th, 2008 @ 12:02am  

  This is a very beautiful church. I been inside the new cathedral, yes it may be bigger but it is not as beautiful as the old church. I believe the Dioceses of Galveston-Houston should save the old Sacred Heart. In my mind I believe the old cathedral is so much more beautiful then the new one. Father Troy Gately was in favor of saving the old cathedral but then Cardinal DiNardo sent Father Troy to another parish. Father Troy was not afraid of standing up for what he believe in, and neither should we. The old cathedral must be saved at all cost.

Tuan Vu - Thursday, June 26th, 2008 @ 11:23pm  

  It is ashame that for the purpose of material things they will destroy this beautiful church, that provide a haven for so many.

Virginia Barriera - Monday, January 14th, 2008 @ 8:30pm  

  This beautiful church is where my husband kneeled down and proposed to me in front of our priest who blessed our engagement/wedding rings...please do not destroy this historical site that has served so many families....In God, We believe....Amen

Marina N. Hernandez Quiroz - Thursday, October 25th, 2007 @ 12:40am  

  My mother's father, Olle J. Lorehn, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, designed this building. At the time, he was still a Lutheran. He became Catholic shortly before his death in June, 1939.

John F. Deeves, S.J. - Saturday, April 21st, 2007 @ 8:45am  

  WHAT?!?!?! I had no idea that this might happen! I was looking for the phone number to call about classes- this is sad news! The Co-Cathedral is a beauty in the midst of the downtown hustle and bustle. We have to preserve it!

Wendy - Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006 @ 9:55am  

  If the demolition of this beautiful church takes place, this will be a tragic loss to the city. It hurts my heart that this site were this historic church sits will become a parking lot!

kristina kennedy - Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 @ 10:34am  

  This cathedral is so beautiful, its almost 100 year olds. The Diocese reports the historic church is unsound. If it were really unsound why would they still use it for daily masses? This church must be saved. I urged everyone reading this please go and contract the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance to do your part in saving this beautiful and historic church.

Joe Cao - Monday, September 18th, 2006 @ 8:10pm  

  Demolished? Are you kidding me? Church bureaucracies are known for being truly horrible stewards of historic structures (particularly their own), and here's a classic example. Historic churches give urban areas, particularly those in decay, cultural cohesion. They MUST be protected. I can't imagine that the city (and the citizens of the city) would allow this one to go. It's urban art.

Jon L. Albee - Friday, July 14th, 2006 @ 6:00pm