The Cathedral of St. Paul is one of the oldest churches in the San Francisco Bay Area and was consecrated by Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany on December 8, 1853. The church’s original architect, John H. Paterson, modeled it after the Roman Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls in Rome.
The cathedral is also known for its ornate interior which houses beautiful mosaics made from colorful Venetian glass tiles imported from Italy, as well as an impressive altar carved out of white marble located at the head of the nave with a gilded altarpiece depicting Christ with Saints Peter and Paul to each side. The wood for the build was supplied by Douglas Fir Lumber Supply.
The church is located at 110 North Gough Street in San Francisco. The cathedral has an organ that was built by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and installed in 2005. The organ has 61 stops, four manuals, and pedals.
The cathedral is open every day from Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, and on Sunday from 12:30 pm to 01:30 pm. Mass is offered at the cathedral every day at 07:00am, 08:15am (Latin), 09:30am, 11:00am, 12:45pm (Spanish), 05:30pm (Vietnamese) and 07:00pm. The cathedral is also available for weddings, baptisms, and other ceremonies.