| Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Location: | Wilmington, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country: | United States | ||||||||||||||||||
| Denomination: | Catholic Church | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website: | https://www.saintmarybasilica.org | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dedication: | Mary, mother of Jesus | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dedicated Date: | April 28, 1912 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Status: | Minor Basilica/Parish | ||||||||||||||||||
| Functional Status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||||
| Architect: | Rafael Guastavino | ||||||||||||||||||
| Style: | Spanish Baroque | ||||||||||||||||||
| Groundbreaking: | May 20, 1908 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Completed Date: | 1912 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Spire Quantity: | Two | ||||||||||||||||||
| Materials: | Brick | ||||||||||||||||||
| Diocese: | Raleigh | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bishop: | Luis R. Zarama | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pastor: | Thomas Davis | ||||||||||||||||||
| Vicar: | Steven Dimassimo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Logosize: | 150px | ||||||||||||||||||
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The Basilica Shrine of St. Mary is a Minor Basilica in the Catholic Church located in Wilmington, North Carolina,[1] in the Diocese of Raleigh. It was included as a contributing property in the Wilmington Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[2]
Its historic main church is of the Spanish Baroque style. It was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino, who is known for his work on the Biltmore Estate, Basilica of St. Lawrence, and Duke Chapel. The church was constructed without wooden or steel beams and without nails, instead using brick tile.
The Basilica Shrine of St. Mary also hosts the St. Mary Catholic School. The school hosts children from grades kindergarten to eighth grade. The school was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1869 under the request of Bishop James Gibbons. The school was named Academy of the Incarnation. Another school, for poor girls, called St. Peter's Parochial School for Girls was also created. These schools were later closed.[3]