Peter Huijsers designed St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral in Breda, and it was completed in 1837 in the Neoclassical style. The government paid for most of the construction, and civil engineers supervised it, which makes it a waterstaatskerk. The front facade combines Doric, Ionic and Corinthian elements, which can be read from bottom to top. The pediment under the bell tower resembles a Greek temple.
The church was elevated to cathedral status in 1853. It lost that status in 1876 when St. Barbara's Church became the diocese's cathedral. After St. Barbara's closed in 1968, St. Michael's Church became the cathedral, and St. Michael's was later demolished.
On January 1, 2001, St. Anthony's became the cathedral again at the request of Bishop Muskens. It is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Breda.
Comments