The Cathedral of St John the Evangelist was begun in 1906 by Bishop Alphonse Glorieux. Father Glorieux was the newly appointed Bishop of the Vicar Apostolic of Idaho when he arrive in Boise from St Michael's College in Portland, Oregon, in 1883. Under his leadership, the Vicariate had grown from two priests and 1500 parishioners to a population of 7000 Catholics, 27 churches, and 10 secular priests by 1893. Four schools, an academy, and two hospitals had also been created. Due to this growth of the Catholic community as well as Idaho assuming statehood, the Vicariate became the Diocese of Boise in 1893 with Bishop Glorieux at its head.
Bishop Glorieux soon recognized the need for a larger structure than the original frame cathedral at the NW corner of the 9th and Bannock Streets.
Thus, the square block surrounded by Fort, Hays, 8th and 9th Streets was purchased and the cornerstone laid in 1906. Not wanting to see the parish go into debt erecting the new cathedral, the Bishop saw to it that it was built in stages. By 1912 the walls and roof were completed and church services were held in the basement.
The upstairs church -- the Cathedral as we know it today -- was completed by Bishop Gorman and was dedicated on Easter Sunday 1921.
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