St. Agnes Cathedral (Springfield, Missouri)

St. Agnes Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Springfield, Missouri, United States. Along with the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau, Missouri it is the seat of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.HistorySt. Agnes ParishCatholicism was established in Springfield when Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick of St. Louis sent Father Graham to the area in 1866. He celebrated the first Mass in the city on March 6 in the home of William Dailey, and then went on to establish Immaculate Conception Parish.The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad came through Springfield in 1870 and the number of Irish and German immigrants increased the number of Catholics. The railroad tracks also divided the city and crossing them, especially for school children, was considered dangerous. H.A. and L.S. Meyer bought a house south of the tracks at South and Elm Streets. It became St. Agnes Elementary School. The school opened with an enrollment of 35 children and the Sisters of Loretto as teachers. As the Catholic population increased on the south side Bishop John J. Hogan of Kansas City was petitioned to establish a new parish to serve their needs. St. Agnes Parish was established in 1908. The parish acquired the vacant Central Congregational Church for its use until a new church could be built. The Rev. Dennis J. O’Driscoll arrived on September 18 and the parish leased the vacant Central Congregational Church for the first year.