The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic cathedral in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. Construction started in 1816 and it was completed in 1851. The same year the cathedral was given the honorary status of a minor basilica.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is located at the eastern end of the Brian Lara Promenade. It is one of the oldest churches in Trinidad and Tobago’s history. The church’s first location was in Tamarind Square. It was created in 1781 during the Spanish colonial era, constructed simply of wood and clay with a shingled roof and could only hold a maximum of 500 parishioners.
After a great fire which occurred in Port of Spain in 1808 the then Governor Sir Ralph Woodford directed British architect Philip Reinagle to rebuild the church as a cathedral in his great plan of reconstructing and expanding the city. The foundation stone for the Cathedral was laid on March 25th 1816. Construction of the Cathedral was finally completed in 1851. In that same year it was consecrated by the first Archbishop of Port of Spain, Reverend Patrick Smith.
The Cathedral was built in the shape of the Latin Cross. The northern and southern transepts were designed as chapels of Our Blessed Lady and St. Joseph respectively. The walls were made of limestone quarried from the Laventille Hills which were nearby. Originally the bell towers were also made of limestone but earthquake tremors of 1825 caused this to be damaged thereby making the limestone be replaced by wood.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was given the status of a Minor Basilica in 1857 as decreed by Pope Pius IX. Thus the church was given special privileges and making it the principal church of the diocese.
The Minor Basilica of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and church of the Sacred Heart is proud to house 6 members of the clergy of varying statuses.
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