St. Sebastian's Cathedral
Detail on the cathedral
St. Sebastian's Cathedral (Dutch: Sint-Sebastiaanskathedraal) is an 18th century cathedral located in Koningstad Centrum, Koningstad. It is one of the best-known examples of the hybrid Federal-Baroque style developed by Victor Janowicz. At 75 meters in height, it is one of the tallest buildings in Brunant and ties for the tallest church building with Grijzestad Cathedral. St. Sebastian's and its dome are said to be inspired by the 17th-century Church of Our Lady in Dortmund.
History[]
Construction[]
Victor Janowicz was commissioned by the Bishop of Brezonde-Koningstad to build the St. Sebastian's Cathedral. St. Peter's Cathedral, the only other one in Koningstad, had grown too small and the Roman Catholic Church wanted to take advantage of the big city works. Janowicz prepared a design in 1786 and overlooked initial construction until 1790, but it was his apprentice Johannes Hart, who was in charge of most of the work. The plan was modified in 1789 to include an intricate bell tower. Financial constraints delayed the construction and it was only finished in 1798. When finished, St. Sebastian's became Koningstad's new cathedral.
The bell in the tower was made by Petit & Fritsen of Helmond, the Netherlands in 1792. The bell was transported by ship to Brunant, but just north of Koningstad, the ship sunk after hitting a rock in shallow water. Short on cash for a new bell, the cathedral got a few strong-armed men to do a service for the cathedral and had the bell retrieved.
World War II[]
During the German invasion and Battle of Koningstad in 1941, the building did not receive much damage to the exterior. In July 1944, German soldiers looted the cathedral, but by then, most of its treasures had been hidden. During the liberation of Koningstad by American troops, the cathedral received some exterior damage. The stolen items were recovered, as those soldiers were arrested shortly after. Between 1948 and 1949, the cathedral was renovated and restored.