(Image is from National Park Service Website)

The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the first Catholic church in Atlanta and was completed in 1873. The original Catholic church in Atlanta was built in 1848 but sustained critical damage after the occupation in 1864 by the Union and was subsequently rebuilt into the present building known as the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The church was designed by William H. Parkins to mimic the Victorian era Gothic Revival by implementing many European, primarily English, designs to create this structure. While mimicking the European Victorian-style, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception takes on many aspects of the American style by combining French, English, and Italian Gothic styles and mixing it with local designs. 

During the Civil War, General Slocumb managed to save some of the buildings being occupied by the Union from being burned down. While the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was one, it sustained heavy damage from shellfire that caused to it be mostly rebuilt. The original building was referred to as “The Catholic Church” and was a much smaller building built-in 1848. The Civil War-era brought about the destruction of the original building but kept portions of it alive due to the strong catholic presence in General Sherman’s army during the occupation of Atlanta. 

Comparing the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to St. Paul’s Cathedral, they are both similar in relation to their city as well as in sustained damage through wars. St. Paul’s Cathedral has gone through many repairs, notably after the English Civil War where Cromwellian troops used it as barracks and it also was burned in the Great Fire of London in 1666. St. Paul’s Church also had repairs in order to add more Victorian era designs as well as combining Neoclassical, Gothic, and Baroque designs to subscribe to a stronger English Reformation style. 

The main differences between the two churches come in the form of their history. St. Paul’s Cathedral has a much longer history that allows for there to be a richer understanding of the church itself. It has over 300 monuments within the church as well as smaller dedicated chapels for specific times in history. While the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception also has a rich history in how it was built, the Atlanta area does not have as strong, or as long, a historical account to be attached to the church in the same way. St. Paul’s Cathedral has a strong historical presence that is reflected in its designs and subsequent repairs as a monument itself to English history. The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception does not appear to have that same history, it is unlikely that many of us associate it with much of its history or know about it. 

It is important to characterize the similarities and differences between these two churches because it shows the difference in history. While the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception holds a strong history, there is not likely to be any strong presence among Atlanta citizens as there was with St. Paul’s Cathedral in Victorian London. Dickens’s choice to include St. Paul’s Cathedral in Bleak House displays the rich history the area had and why it was impactful to Victorian citizens. 

Bibliography

“Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.” National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/shr.htm. Accessed 17 November 2020.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “St. Paul's Cathedral.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Pauls-Cathedral-London. Accessed 17 November 2020.