A New Chapter for an Historic Cathedral

Father Tyler Richards begins ministry at Christ Church Cathedral in July 2025

On Sunday, July 13, 2025, the Reverend Tyler Richards stepped into his ministry at Christ Church Cathedral, Eau Claire—one of the three cathedrals now serving the resurrected Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin. Though a sense of anticipation hovered like a held breath, the air was electric with excitement: congregants and clergy alike sensed that something new and vital was unfolding in their story as he preached on who is really a neighbour, anyway (with mandatory Mr. Rogers references).

Father Tyler Richards in his natural book filled environment. Note the liturgical colors of the year mug.

A Legacy Anchored in History

One of Fr. Tyler’s favorite stained glass pieces in his new home, located in the entry way.

Christ Church Cathedral’s roots date back to 1858, when Eau Claire was still a fledgling logging town and services were held in borrowed spaces. The first permanent church stood by 1875, but it was in 1910–1916 that the current Gothic‑Revival structure was built—made possible by the visionary Minneapolis firm Purcell, Feick & Elmslie, with stained-glass windows of rare ecclesiastical artistry . In 1931, following the formation of the Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire, Christ Church was formally designated as its cathedral, becoming a diocesan mother church and a regional pilgrimage site.

Today, the Cathedral is more than historic stone and luminous glass—it is a vessel of mission, education, and spiritual formation. The parish house, built in 1909, now hosts literacy programs and artist residencies, embodying the cathedral’s longstanding role as a community center and learning hub.

Stepping into Ministry: A Shared Venture

Father Tyler arrives excited to step into this ongoing legacy, bringing energy, know-how, and a commitment to focus on the very missional agency that has brought Eau Claire to where it is. The hum of possibility has been growing louder. The cathedral staff and choir, already renowned for musical excellence, are ready to support collaborative ministry and creative worship. Together, they envision the cathedral as both a sanctuary and a center of learning, exemplifying faith and reaching well beyond the downtown walls, already embodying that ethos across the region.

Father Tyler’s own story is woven with creativity and formation. A published author of devotional writing, digital content creator, and teacher, he brings broad gifts that align with the cathedral’s mission to serve Eucharistically, educationally, and communally.

Breathing Before the Plunge, Together

This is a palpable “breath before the plunge” moment for all who have been working to find the right future rector and discerning where Christ is calling them to act—a moment of collective pause to reflect on where Christ Church Cathedral has been, and where it is now courageously heading. Parish members sense the opportunity to become more deeply the kind of place they already are: rooted in liturgical beauty, rich in music, staffed by committed leaders, and focused outward to the community in need.

Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire, WI

With choir, staff, vestry, and clergy aligned, there is a determination to re-energize their missional agency, to walk beyond tradition, to innovate in service, and to reassert the cathedral’s role as a beacon of welcome, learning, and transformation for the Eau Claire region.

A Living Temple, A Rising Mission

Christ Church Cathedral stands today as both a legacy of a storied past and a steward of a vibrant present. Its sacred architecture—stained‑glass windows, stone Nave, chapel, and Parish House—has been shaped over 150 years. And yet as Father Tyler observed the Cathedral feels less like a museum and more like a living organism, energized for mission, faith, and community.

In Eau Claire’s ever‑growing cityscape, where arts and education intersect with civic life, the Cathedral aspires—and already in many ways is—a sanctuary, a center of learning, a sign of hope.

This is a moment when breath is drawn in. The excitement is clear: the Cathedral stands ready to shine more deeply, serve more boldly, and love more widely, and as Father Tyler commented, he couldn’t feel more blessed to be a part of this amazing community.