ASHEVILLE — St. Lawrence Basilica has been awarded two prestigious honors to help guide its future restoration efforts: an award for participation in the National Fund for Sacred Places and a 2020 Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit from Preservation North Carolina.
One of two minor basilicas in the Diocese of Charlotte, St. Lawrence Basilica is an architectural gem and historic landmark. It was pivotal in the growth of the Catholic Church in western North Carolina, and it is architecturally significant for its internationally famous designer, its unique method of construction, and its novel architectural style.
The basilica sits on a hill in downtown Asheville, overlooking the Appalachian Mountains. The red brick building, built in the Spanish Renaissance style, is capped by a copper dome that is guarded by statues of St. Lawrence, St. Stephen and St. Aloysius Gonzaga. The 82-foot-by-58-foot dome, constructed of terracotta tile, is one of the largest free-standing elliptical domes in North America. It features the same vaulting technique and herringbone tile pattern that Guastavino used at Grand Central Terminal and Ellis Island’s Registry Room, as well as 200-plus other locations in New York City, and at Asheville’s Biltmore House.
Guastavino came to Asheville to work on the Biltmore mansion and chose to remain in the area. Some have called the basilica Guastavino’s crowning achievement, and he is buried inside the basilica he built. After Guastavino’s death in 1908, his son completed the project and it was dedicated in 1909.
The basilica was named one of a select few churches nationwide to participate the National Fund for Sacred Places in 2020, a program of Partners for Sacred Places, the only national non-sectarian nonprofit that helps communities preserve their historic religious properties. Its mission is to build a shared sense of responsibility for the future of sacred places.
The award means the basilica can receive a matching grant of up to $250,000 and a package of customized planning grants, training and technical assistance, coaching and consulting services through Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
This funding and support will be used to help launch a parish capital campaign to make urgently needed repairs to the dome, roof and parapets.
The Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit recognizes people or organizations demonstrating a genuine commitment to historic preservation through extraordinary leadership, research, philanthropy, promotion or significant participation in preservation.
The award commends the planning and completion of the basilica’s “Historic Structure Report,” completed this summer by acclaimed historic preservation architect Joseph K. Oppermann of Winston-Salem to set the stage for the basilica’s future repair and restoration. The award also recognizes overall stewardship of the church by the parish, the diocese and the Basilica Preservation Fund.
“St. Lawrence parishioners, and all members of the Diocese of Charlotte, have been entrusted with the care of this extraordinary masterpiece,” said Mary Everist, president of the Basilica Preservation Fund. “It is truly an honor to have our preservation efforts – particularly the recently completed Historic Structure Report – recognized by Preservation North Carolina with the Carraway Award.”
“We are also extremely excited and grateful to have been accepted into the National Fund for Sacred Places grant program cohort for 2020. As we embark on the next phase of preservation efforts, the expertise and financial support of this exceptional organization will be crucial to ensuring our magnificent, historic basilica will remain a place of beauty and reverence for generations to come,” Everist said.
“St. Lawrence Parish and the Basilica Preservation Fund Inc. are honored to receive both the 2020 Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit from Preservation North Carolina, recognizing the dedicated preservation work at the basilica, and being accepted into the National Fund for Sacred Places grant program,” said Father Roger Arnsparger, the basilica’s rector and pastor.
“These awards are a welcomed encouragement for the continued work of the parish, the diocese and the community in preserving and making available the astounding architectural construction and spiritual labors of Mr. Rafael Guastavino, his son. Their dedication along with the parishioners, community and visitors assisted St. Lawrence Parish to provide a sacred temple for the celebration of Our Lord’s sacred mysteries.
“We are grateful for these awards which recognize likewise the interest of the parishioners, the local community and visitors who have been able to worship and receive God’s abundant graces in the Basilica of St. Lawrence for 111 years,” Father Arnsparger said.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter. St. Lawrence Basilica contributed.
Learn more
At www.saintlawrencebasilica.org and www.savethebasilica.org: In-person tours are not available at this time, but you can go online to learn more about the historic St. Lawrence Basilica and the ongoing efforts to restore and preserve it.
