Cathedral of the Madeleine
Two days before Mormon pioneers celebrate their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, Catholics gather at the Cathedral of the Madeleine to honor their own patron saint. Bishop Lawrence Scanlan chose this timing deliberately. In a territory dominated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he wanted his flock to have their own celebration alongside Pioneer Day. The feast day of Mary Magdalene falls on July 22, and so in 1909, Scanlan dedicated the only cathedral in America bearing her name.
Stone and Vision
The cathedral took nine years to build, from groundbreaking in 1900 to completion in 1909. Architects Carl M. Neuhausen and Bernard O. Mecklenburg designed an exterior of local sandstone in the Neo-Romanesque style, with rounded arches and solid masonry that speaks of permanence. But step inside and the mood shifts entirely. Neo-Gothic details soar upward, drawing the eye to vaulted ceilings and elaborate ornamentation. James Cardinal Gibbons, the Archbishop of Baltimore, traveled west to dedicate the completed structure, lending the full weight of American Catholic hierarchy to this outpost of faith in the Intermountain West.
The Spanish Gothic Interior
The second bishop of Salt Lake, Joseph S. Glass, transformed the cathedral's interior into something extraordinary. He commissioned John Theodore Comes, one of America's preeminent ecclesiastical architects, to decorate the space in the Spanish Gothic style. Felix Liefuchter painted vivid murals across the walls and ceiling, while sculptor Johannes Kirchmayer crafted ornate shrines. The polychrome work added rich color to every surface. In 1916, Bishop Glass changed the cathedral's name to the French spelling after visiting what tradition holds as Mary Magdalene's tomb in France. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel now contains the tomb of Bishop Scanlan himself, the Irish immigrant who dreamed this cathedral into existence.
Relics Lost and Found
For years, a small case containing a first-class relic of Saint Mary Magdalene rested atop Bishop Scanlan's tomb. The cathedral was one of only two in the world to hold such a relic while bearing her name, the other being the Basilica of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in France. Then on July 10, 2024, thieves stole the relic from the cathedral. The loss struck the faithful hard. A piece of sacred history that had connected Salt Lake City to the earliest days of Christianity vanished, leaving only the memory of what once rested in that small case.
Voices Rising
The cathedral pulses with music. A Kenneth Jones organ built in 1992 fills the space with 4,242 pipes arranged across 60 stops and 82 ranks. But the most remarkable sound comes from the Madeleine Choir School, the only co-educational Catholic choir school in the United States. Established in 1996, it now educates over 400 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The Cathedral Choir has recorded multiple albums and tours internationally, their young voices having echoed through St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and Notre Dame de Paris. Composer Amedee Tremblay served as organist here from 1920 to 1925, adding to the cathedral's musical legacy.
A Catholic Landmark
The Cathedral of the Madeleine stands listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a recognition of both its architectural significance and its role in Utah's religious history. In a state where Catholics remain a minority, this sandstone cathedral has served as mother church to the Diocese of Salt Lake City for over a century. Its twin spires rise above the surrounding streets, visible reminders that faith in this valley has always worn more than one face. The stained glass windows tell stories from Scripture while the building itself tells a story of perseverance and devotion in an unexpected place.
From the Air
The Cathedral of the Madeleine sits at 40.7697N, 111.8817W in downtown Salt Lake City, approximately 0.5 miles east of Temple Square. From altitude, look for the distinctive Neo-Romanesque architecture with twin spires in the urban grid east of the temple complex. Best viewed from 2,000-3,000 feet AGL. Nearest airport is Salt Lake City International (KSLC), 6 miles northwest. The Wasatch Range provides a dramatic mountain backdrop to the east.