The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky, is a minor basilica and the cathedral of the Diocese of Covington. The predecessor to the current structure was St. Mary's Church, constructed in 1834 and replaced by a larger church in 1851. In 1853, Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Covington and named George Aloysius Carrell as its first bishop. Construction of the new larger cathedral began in 1895 under Bishop Camillus Paul Maes, following a groundbreaking held in 1894.

The structure, designed by Leon Coquard with inspiration from the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, was dedicated in 1901. Because of a lack of funds, the stained glass windows were not installed until 1910. In 1953, Pope Pius XII elevated the cathedral to the rank of minor basilica, and it became known as the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. The exterior is constructed of Bedford stone with red Ludowici tile roofs, while the interior was modeled after the Basilica of St. Denis.

In 2020, the diocese undertook repairs and restorations to the cathedral structure, including reinforcing buttresses and replacing gargoyles. In June 2021, the diocese installed 24 statues in the empty niches at the main entrance of the cathedral, completing the original plan for its façade. These statues, designed by the American artist Neilson Carlin, honor various parishes and institutions located within the diocese.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons