San Fernando Cathedral
Where? San Fernando, Texas
Year Built: 1738
Religion: Roman Catholic
Still in Use? Yes
First built sometime between 1738 and 1750, the San Fernando Cathedral, sometimes known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria and Guadalupe, is one of the oldest episcopal churches in the USA.
Settlers from the Canary Islands constructed it, and the cathedral has been dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria, which is the patroness of the Islands.
Besides being the oldest cathedral in Texas, San Fernando Cathedral has also been visited by Pope John Paul II in 1987, the first and only papal visit to Texas.
This honor allowed the cathedral to join an elite group of churches that popes have visited since 1965. In 2003, the cathedral experienced a significant restoration, which saw a change in the church’s interior, replacing its rectory and constructing a community center.
