Restoration of the Towers at the
Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul

Pass on the gift of our Catholic heritage.

Preserve our cathedral for future generations as a visible sign of our faith and our unity as Rhode Island Catholics.



Or send your gift to:
Office of Stewardship & Development
Attention: Cathedral Towers
One Cathedral Square
Providence, Rhode Island 02903


Learn more about the Cathedral restoration

The urgent preservation work underway on the cathedral’s towers and façade was unforeseen until 2019 when engineers discovered structural integrity issues during the planned replacement of the cathedral’s roof.


Structural Integrity

The historic church, designed in a neo-romanesque style by noted Irish-American ecclesial architect Patrick Keeley, was built largely with local Portland Brownstone—beautiful but also soft. After more than 100 years of freeze-and-thaw cycles in the harsh New England winters, the stone has been critically compromised throughout the towers.

The Challenge

Engineers were clear that, upon discovering these issues during the roof replacement, work to preserve the towers and the cathedral’s historic façade had to begin immediately. The estimated $9 million project had to start without the opportunity to find funding and donations. Your gift will help us complete this critical act of preserving a local icon of our faith for future generations.

Historical Preservation

The work is being carried out with the goal of preserving the unique architectural, historical, and religious heritage of the cathedral. Local stone is being sourced to match the original and large weakened stones being removed from the towers will, in some instances, be reshaped for use elsewhere on the building. Every effort is being made to retain the cathedral’s iconic aesthetic which has graced downtown since its dedication in 1872.


Additional coverage in Rhode Island Catholic

Read more in depth about the critical restoration project in the Rhode Island Catholic, including interviews with the Cathedral Rector and the architect and contractors involved.

Monsignor Bastia on the project with PBN

Read the interview on the Cathedral towers projects in Providence Business News with Monsignor Raymond Bastia, Vicar for Planning and Finance.

Ready to be a caretaker of our cathedral
for future generations?

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