Noonday Concerts

12:15–12:45 PM

• July 2 – Aaron Engebreth

• July 9 – Ray Cornils

• July 16 – Matt Emkey

• July 23 – Harold Stover

• July 30 – Bridgette Wargovich

• August 6 – Randall Mullin

• August 13 – Marc-André Marquis

Evening & Afternoon Concerts

• June 24 – Jacob Hofeling, 7:00 PM

• August 17 – Hentus van Rooyen, 3:00 PM

• August 24 - Maine Brass Collective, 3:00 PM

• August 22 – Peter Krasinski, 7:00 PM

• September 28 – Choral Art Society, 2:30 PM

• October 5 – Gail Archer, 3:00 PM

• October 23 – Vincent Dubois, 7:00 PM

Nestled in the heart of Lewiston, Maine, the twin granite towers of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul rise above the modest skyline—a striking and rare sight in northern New England, where village churches are the norm. Completed in 1938, this imposing Gothic Revival structure stretches 316 feet in length, 110 feet in width, and features two 167-foot towers. It seats 2,200 faithful, yet its story began long before its dedication.

A Parish for the People

By the mid-19th century, thousands of French Canadians had migrated to Lewiston to work in the booming textile and shoe mills along the Androscoggin River. In 1870, Saint Peter’s Church was founded as the first French-speaking parish in the Diocese of Portland to serve this growing immigrant community. In 1881, the Dominican Fathers of Lille, France, were entrusted with its care, and the parish was renamed Saints Peter and Paul. Membership swelled to nearly 10,000, and the original church (built in 1873) soon became too small.

On February 5, 1905, the final Mass was celebrated in the original church. Construction of the new basilica began on February 22, 1906, and would take more than three decades to complete.

The Organs of the Basilica

Music has long been a cornerstone of the basilica’s identity. The first pipe organ—a 24-rank Hook and Hastings—was dedicated in 1880 and moved into the lower church in 1906. In 1916, it was rebuilt and expanded by Casavant Frères of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, as their Opus 665. It remained in use until 2004 when it was sold and relocated to the Church of the Resurrection in New York City.

Casavant Frères was also commissioned to build two new organs for the upper church, designed by renowned organist Charles-Marie Courboin (of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NYC). The gallery organ contains 4,695 pipes in five divisions, while the sanctuary organ features 737 pipes in three divisions—both playable from a central console. Courboin himself performed the dedication concert on October 4, 1938, before an audience of over 2,000.

Sacred Music Leadership

The basilica's early musical leadership included George Giboin, who served as organist until his death in 1945, followed by celebrated Canadian organist Bernard Piché—winner of the Prix d’Europe and a protégé of Charles Tournemire. Piché presided over a flourishing music program until his retirement in 1966.

From Decline to Restoration

The parish reached its peak in the 1950s with over 15,000 members. As the mills closed, the number dropped to about 8,000 by 1970. In 1986, the Dominicans returned administration to the Diocese of Portland. Due to high maintenance costs and a declining population, most liturgies moved to the lower church, and the upper church and its organs gradually fell into disrepair.

Faced with the threat of demolition in the 1990s, the parish community rallied to save the basilica. A major restoration began, taking nine years for the exterior and several more for the interior. Work was completed in 2002.

Organ restoration began in 2005 under the Faucher Organ Company. A concert series launched in 2007 brought performers from around the world to raise awareness. In 2019, the gallery console was rebuilt with a modern solid-state control system by Virtuoso, dramatically expanding its capabilities. In 2021, a donated Allen console was repurposed for the sanctuary organ.

Though work remains, the restoration of this world-class musical treasure continues with renewed purpose.

A Living Witness

On October 4, 2004, the Vatican elevated the church to the dignity of a Minor Basilica, recognizing its historical importance and liturgical excellence. As Lewiston itself experiences a cultural revival, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul stands once again as a beacon of beauty, heritage, and faith.

20th Anniversary of Minor Basilica Designation

Celebrating Two Decades of Sacred Beauty and Mission

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the conferral of the title Minor Basilica upon the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul by the Vatican—a recognition of the church’s historic, architectural, and liturgical significance.

To celebrate this milestone, the basilica has partnered with the Mark Thallander Foundation to present an expanded concert series beginning in June and culminating in October.

Highlights of the series include:

• A special performance by Vincent Dubois, titular organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris

• A Choral Concert on Saturday, September 28, featuring regional and guest ensembles

All are welcome to join us in this season of beauty, reflection, and praise.