Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

The Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is a cathedral church and a Minor Basilica located in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Along with the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling it is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The parish complex is a contributing property in the Downtown Charleston Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.HistorySacred Heart ParishThe first Catholic priest to visit what is now West Virginia came in 1832. In 1836, the Rev. Alexander L. Hitzelberger of Norfolk, Virginia visited relatives in Charleston and celebrated Mass in the courthouse. Bishop Richard Vincent Whelan of Richmond visited the city in 1842. Pope Pius IX established the diocese of Wheeling on July 19, 1850. Various priests visited the area from time to time. The Rev. Stenger settled in Charleston for a short time in 1862, but the Civil War hindered his ministry. He was able to return and settle in the town again in 1866. There was no church building at the time so Stenger celebrated Mass on the second floor of B. Ward's store on Front Street (now Kanawha Boulevard).