[Bell Historians] Birmingham RC Cath

[David Cawley]

As usual Carl ignores my outpourings, and he is wrong in saying that there are only four major basilicas. The ones he refers to and on whose bells Alan Blair wrote a masterly article in the RW a few years ago are the four patriarchal basilicas of Rome (St Peter in the Vatican; St Paul without the Walls; St Mary Major; and the Pope's Cathedral, St John Lateran). Try telling a Venetian that St Mark's is a minor basilica: you'll most likely end up in the Grand Canal.

It doesn't matter which "side of the pond" you are, in episcopal usage (Roman or Anglican/Episcopalian), you don't correctly use the title "Cathedral" unless the church is the Seat of the Bishop of the Diocese and you do not use the title Basilica unless granted by the Pope (who specifies the cause and degree, major or minor) (and you don't have to be a Cathedral).

Mind, one cannot speak for the stranger goings on in the States (for example Indianapolis' "Scottish Rite Masonic Cathedral" with its wonderful Taylor carillon).

DLC

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Carl S Zimmerman 
  To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 4:25 AM
  Subject: Re: [Bell Historians] Birmingham RC Cath


  David Hird asked:
  >What is the difference between an RC Cathedral and a Basilica. You
  >get lots of Basilicas abroad.
  _____

  On the west side of the pond, the designation "basilica" tends to 
  replace the designation "church" but to supplement the designation 
  "cathedral". So, for example, what was St.Adalbert's Church is now 
  St.Adalbert's Basilica, while what was The Cathedral of Saint Louis 
  is now The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. There are some 
  variations, but this seems to be the most common pattern.

  CSZ

  P.S. These are all minor basilicas. There are only four major 
  basilicas, and all are within or close to the Vatican City.


              
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