St Petrus and Pauslus Cathedral

St Petrus and Pauslus Cathedral in the center of Paramaribo, built between 1883 and 1887.

The cathedral is built entirely of wood and is one of the largest wooden cathedrals in South America. In 1826 there was an old Jewish theater ‘De Verreezene Phoenix’, in 1882 it was closed due to dilapidation and converted into a church and consecrated into the St. Peter and Paul Church.

The exterior of the Cathedral is focused on Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Roosendaal and the Redemptorist Cathedral in Boston. The design is by Redemptorist Brother Frans Harmer and the interior design by Fathers Borret and Eijsink and Monsignor Schaap.

The existing building remained standing and was used during construction as a support and scaffolding. On July 10, 1885, the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul was unfinished but consecrated. In 1901 the neo-gothic wooden spires of 40 meters long were put on the towers. In 1926, the exterior of the cathedral was painted in gray and yellow.

Inside the Cathedral completely executed in Cedar wood. In 1921, the Tilburg Father Donders, who was buried in the cemetery, was interred in the left side wing. When the diocese was established in 1958, the church became a cathedral. In 2014, the cathedral was elevated to a basilica by Nuncio Girasoli.

After a thorough renovation that lasted from 1977 to 1979, the building started to tilt after a few years. In 1989 the cathedral was closed to the public. In the mid-1990s, the Vatican provided funds to restore the building. The recovery started in 2002.

The foundation help Peerke Donders and the European Development Fund ensured that the 2007 restoration could begin. The Jacques de leeuw Foundation made a donation to refurbish the interior. On November 13 and 14, 2010, after more than 21 years, the cathedral was reopened and reconsecrated. The church organ was built between 1889 and 1890 by Micheal Maarschalkerweerd.

West tower are three bells named “Alphonsus”, “Rosa” and “John” and they are in the tones sol-si-re. The clocks are made by Petit & Fritsen in Aarle-Rixtel. The “Johannes” is the heaviest bell and weighs 827 kilos. On Sundays, holidays and other special occasions, all three are made to sound.