A well-known Catholic church located in the lively area of Downtown Orlando, this beautiful renovated building has a Romanesque revival style.
St. James Cathedral is a popular place of worship and the seat of the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando. Visit its elegant edifice with restored original features, including a light-colored stone façade. See the beautiful interior and listen to religious songs performed by the church’s choir.
The first church ever built on the site dates to the year 1891. It was a simple wooden building with a small bell tower. In 1976, when a great fire destroyed the original Cathedral of the Diocese of Orlando, St. James was chosen to replace it. The building underwent a few renovations over the years. Many of the architectural elements that you can now admire were renovated or added in 2009. The façade and the large rose window were restored. The huge organ and the choir area were enlarged. A new marble altar was built. Look for the baptismal font and tabernacle throne brought from Italy.
While you are visiting St. James Cathedral, make sure to stop at the church’s gift shop. Parishioners of the church staffing the shop are very helpful and friendly. Find gift ideas for weddings, baptisms, birthdays and anniversaries. Select from statues, medals, rosaries and intricately crafted crucifixes. You can also buy books and Bibles, both in English and Spanish. One section is dedicated to children.
The parish organizes a school and a choir. St. James Cathedral School is located near the church and is a nationally recognized blue-ribbon school. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a government initiative that recognizes schools with high levels of student achievement. Listen to the choirs singing at Mass once a month. They follow the curriculum of the prestigious Royal School of Church Music.
If you are driving to St. James Cathedral find parking spaces diagonally across from the cathedral’s entrance. Alternatively reach the area via the commuter rail system SunRail. There are two stations nearby, Church Street Station and LYNX Central Station.
