Resting in Peace: The Hidden Grave in Downtown Raleigh
Thousands of commuters speed past it every single day. Pedestrians hurry by, unaware of its presence behind the black iron fence. Though it is located in the center of downtown, few, if any, are aware of this hidden Raleigh landmark.  But, if you can read Latin, then perhaps you can can figure out its location.
The “it” no one ever notices is the final resting place of the Right Reverend Monsignor Thomas P. Griffin. Father Griffin served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church for 32 years; and as rector of the Cathedral for 7. When he arrived in Raleigh in 1899, he found a small Catholic congregation which assembled for Mass in a tiny frame chapel appended to a crumbling antebellum mansion on Hillsboro St. Undaunted, the young priest energized the congregation, and by 1909 he had established Sacred Heart School (now Cathedral School). In the ensuing years, a rectory, convent and the beautiful stone Sacred Heart Church were built. Also during his pastorate, Sacred Heart Church was elevated to the status of cathedral when the Diocese of Raleigh was created in 1924. Â
After dedicating more than half his life in service to Raleigh’s Catholic community, Father Griffin died in 1931 at the age of 61. Bishop William Hafey officiated at his funeral, and a large crowd turned out to witness his burial in the churchyard of Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Fr. Griffin is laid to rest in 1931 in the churchyard of his beloved Sacred Heart Cathedral. (Photo courtesy the NC Office of Archives and History, State Archives.)
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This is the view today.
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Hundreds turned out for Fr. Griffin’s funeral. This is how the interior of Sacred Heart Cathedral appeared in 1931. (Photo courtesy the NC Office of Archives and History, State Archives.)
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This statue of Jesus watches serenely over Father Griffin’s grave…
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… as 21st century traffic speeds relentlessly past.
Today, Father Griffin’s legacy to Raleigh — Cathedral School and the beautiful Sacred Heart Cathedral itself — is memorialized in stone, literally. Requiescat in pace.
The Cathedral grounds are open to the public during daylight hours, and guests are invited to pay a respectful visit to the grave of this humble priest.
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09/23/2009
Thanks Raleigh Boy.
My mom went to school there for a couple of years in the ’40s. She used to show me her autograph book signed by all her classmates.
And isn’t the founder of Ravenscroft buried a few blocks away at Christ Church?
09/23/2009
Yes NCSU, Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft, first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, was buried in the undercroft of (the first) Christ Church in 1830. His tomb was rediscovered in 2001 when the (present, 1853) church underwent a major restoration. Ravenscroft School was named after him.
09/24/2009
Hey Raleigh Boy,
I know from reading your previous posts that you grew up at Christ Church. Can you elaborate on how they discovered Ravenscroft’s grave? There’s been a historical marker outside the church for a long time indicating he was buried there, but I didn’t realize they didn’t know where the grave was.
Thanks!
09/24/2009
NCSU — here is an excerpt from a history of Christ Church (Martin H. Brinkley and John Ward, September 2009) on the rediscovery of Bp. Ravenscroft’s grave. btw — My Sunday school pal and I sneaked into the basement once to try to find it, but it was so dark down there we got spooked and ran out before we got very far!
“The consecration of Christ Church’s first building was Bishop Ravenscroft’s last service as Bishop of North Carolina before his death in Raleigh in March 1830. After the Bishop’s funeral at Christ Church, he was buried in a brick vault under the chancel of the William Nichols church. Upon construction of the present Richard Upjohn church in 1848-52, Bishop Ravenscroft’s remains, wrapped in a shroud, were relocated to a vault under the chancel of the new church. For many decades the precise location of this vault was uncertain, leading to speculation that the Bishop’s remains had not in fact been moved at the time the present church was built. During an extensive renovation in 2001, Bishop Ravenscroft’s burial vault was accidentally rediscovered by workmen moving stones in an area that lay under the chancel floor. The present Bishop of North Carolina, the Right Reverend Michael B. Curry, led a service reconsecrating the vault, to the great joy of the Christ Church family.”
10/02/2009
Excellent story. That church has been part of my family’s life for over 40 years. My mother’s funeral was there, and I had two children baptised there. I enjoyed reading some of the history that I did not know, and I really like the old interior shot of the cathedral. It was fairly recently restored to look like that again.
Thanks.
03/13/2010
Monsignor Griffin was my great uncle. He died years before I was born. Since I didn’t know him, I appreciate the article and seeing the pictures.
03/13/2010
Thanks for sharing your personal connection to Msgr. Griffin with us Mary. I’m happy my article resonated with you. I do hope to learn more about this good and dedicated priest.
04/02/2012
I am a Cathedral School teacher but did not grow up here, so I don’t have a long history at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Thanks for the history lesson, and I have enjoyed the pictures of the Cathedral at a much earlier era. Can’t wait to show them to my students.
Thanks, Raleigh Boy!!
09/29/2017
Like Mary stated, MSGR Thomas P Griffin was our great uncle. I wasn’t born until 1934 so I did not know him. I did find his prayer card tucked away in my grandfathers prayer book that I put away in a safe place and now cannot find.lol…I am proud that our great Uncle Tom accomplished so much during his tenure as the humble pastor of Sacred Heart parish. I pray that he is never forgotten…..Margaret
07/03/2022
Thank you so very much for this post. Thomas was the brother of my Great Grandfather. I am humbled and honored to know that he was so loved and recognized by the Church, the community and that Thomas had a voice within the Vatican.
My understanding is that my Great Grandfather, George Griffin Sr. was the architect of the original Cathedral/ Sacred Heart Church which I understand is no longer a Cathedral.
Is there any documentation of this in your archives or possibly a keystone on the building denoting the architect?
Is there information possibly in Government records for building permits perhaps?
Prayers for all the souls this church has served within its longevity. May God bless all those that have passed through its doors including those that keep and honor his grave. Amen.
With much love, humbleness and gratitude,
Sharon