| Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location in Missouri | |
| 38°38′33″N 90°15′17″W / 38.64250°N 90.25472°W | |
| Location | 4431 Lindell Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Website | www.cathedralstl.org |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral, minor basilica |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Consecrated | June 29, 1926 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Barnett, Haynes & Barnett |
| Style | Neo-Byzantine Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1907 |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Construction cost | $3,000,000 (1914 dollars)[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 2,500 (floor seating) 5,000 (including galleries)[1] |
| Length | 365 feet (111 m) |
| Width | 204 feet (62 m) |
| Number of domes | Three |
| Dome height (outer) | 227 feet (69 m) |
| Dome height (inner) | 143 feet (44 m) |
| Dome diameter (inner) | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Number of spires | Two |
| Materials | Granite (exterior) Brick, marble, mosaic tiles (interior) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of St. Louis |
| Deanery | South City |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski |
| Rector | Rev. Msgr. Henry J. Breier |
| Assistant priest(s) | Rev. Zachary D. Povis Rev. Msgr. Gregory R. Mikesch |
| Reference no. | 57[2] |
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, also known as the Saint Louis Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. Completed in 1914, it is the mother church of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the seat of Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. The cathedral is named for Saint Louis and was designated a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997.[3]
The cathedral was built as a replacement for the previous cathedral, the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, located along the Mississippi River. Although workers began clearing ground for the building on May 1, 1907, dedication of the cathedral and its first Mass did not take place until October 18, 1914, when the superstructure was complete.[4] Consecration of the church took place more than a decade later on June 29, 1926.[5] The church is known for its large mosaic installation (which is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere), and for its burial crypts.[6]
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Cathedral Basilica Saint Louis
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Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis | St. Louis, Missouri
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Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
Transcription
Welcome to the magnificent Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, also known as the St. Louis Cathedral or simply the New Cathedral. When looking at the cathedral, it is almost as if you were standing next to one of the many old cathedrals you can find in Europe. However unlike the typical European Gothic cathedrals, this cathedral is more of a Romanesque and byzantine style, with its two towers and three large domes. This cathedral is also not as old as one might think. The planning for a new cathedral, which would replace the old one situated next to the grand arch, began in late 19th century. During this time, a special fund and a formal organization promoting the new cathedral was created. The construction itself started later, when the foundation stone was placed in 1908. By 1914, enough of the building was completed for a dedication ceremony, yet the full consecration did not take place until June 29th, 1926. The consecration gathered all of St. Louis parish churches, 59 archbishops and priests and more than 100.000 people on Lindell Boulevard. However, even after the consecration, the cathedral wasn't 100 percent finished until 1988 when the interior mosaic was completed. The cathedral is dedicated to the Victorious Christ and the French King Louis IX, also known as Saint Louis. The latter has given name to, not only the cathedral, but also the city you are in. The Cathedral was designated a basilica in 1997, when Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to St. Louis. While the outside of the cathedral certainly is impressive, it is most famous for its beautiful inside. The inside of the cathedral holds one of the largest mosaics in the world, containing more then 41 million pieces. The work is so detailed that it from afar more looks like paintings than mosaics. When looking at the huge 7.700 m2 mosaic, I think you will understand why it took 76 years and a dozen of artisans to finish it. The mosaic in the entrance area depicts the life of the French king Saint Louis, the rear dome includes mosaics of significant archdiocesan events while the main dome and sanctuary depict biblical scenes from both the Old Testament and New Testament. The cathedral also houses a museum in the basement. The museum is dedicated to the mosaic and some of the other artifacts found within the cathedral, for example the original organ. The basement also holds a crypt, where former spiritual leaders are buried. In the left transept you can also find a small shrine, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart is a symbol for the love Jesus has for all people. The focus of the shrine is a mosaic produced by the esteemed Mosaic Studio located in the Vatican. The mosaic is based upon an oil painting which depicts Jesus and his scared heart. If you have the time, make sure to pay the inside of the cathedral a visit. However, before going inside, I want to tell you about another special feature of this site. There is a statue called Angel of Harmony on the west side of the entrance. This 14 foot high statue was raised in 1999 in memory of Daniel Schlafly, a Catholic layman who was dedicated to the cause of racial justice and peace. This unorthodox statue depicts a winged angel with African-American features, standing behind three children with Hispanic, Asian and European features, playing a song of peace on their instruments. The statue's base is of granite and is inscribed with quotations from the New Testament, Pope John Paul II and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, the New Cathedral is one of St. Louis landmarks and a true architectural masterpiece.
History
Planning for the cathedral began under the authority of Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick in the 1870s and 1880s, and a fund was created for the construction of the building by Archbishop John Joseph Kain.[7] A formal organization promoting the new cathedral was created on April 28, 1871, and among the members of the St. Louis Cathedral Building Association were Archbishop Kenrick, Bishop Patrick John Ryan, and a variety of local businessmen.[7][8] Initial site selection indicated that the new cathedral would be built on a city block bounded by 22nd and 23rd streets, and by Pine and Chestnut streets, at a location east of the actual construction site.[7]
However, the initiative for construction was only begun after the elevation of Archbishop John J. Glennon. The architecture firm of Barnett, Haynes & Barnett was selected, and Thomas P. Barnett led the design team for the project. A ceremony was conducted on May 1, 1907, for the groundbreaking of the site, and a formal laying of the building's cornerstone took place on October 18, 1908.[4][7] By 1914, enough of the building was complete for a dedication ceremony, yet full consecration did not take place until June 29, 1926.[5] Even after consecration, completion of the cathedral's mosaics was not accomplished until 1988.
On December 20, 1943, a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Requiem was offered for Butch O'Hare, US Navy fighter pilot and Medal of Honor winner.
The grounds of the cathedral also contain the distinctive circular Chancery Building, circa 1965, designed by the Peruvian-American modernist architect Wenceslaus Sarmiento.
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View down the main aisle -
Tintinnabulum, a small bell signifying the status of the church as a minor basilica -
Ceiling of All Saints Chapel
Mosaics
In 1912, installation of mosaics in the interior began. Completed in 1988, the mosaics collectively contain 41.5 million glass tesserae pieces in more than 7,000 colors. Covering 83,000 square feet (7,700 m2), it is the largest mosaic collection in the world outside Russia.
While the mosaics in the side chapels and sanctuary walls were designed and installed by Tiffany Studios, the mosaics in the main cathedral areas were designed by August Oetken.[4] Installation of the mosaics was completed by dozens of artisans, including Hildreth Meiere, Ravenna Mosaic, Inc., and especially the father and son team, Paul and Arno Heuduck, who worked on the mosaic for nearly their entire working lives,[9] and Emil Frei, Inc., of St. Louis.[4] The narthex of the church depicts the life of King Louis IX of France, namesake of the city and church, the rear dome includes mosaics of significant archdiocesan events, while the main dome by Jan Henryk de Rosen depicts Biblical scenes from both the Old Testament and New Testament.[5]
Crypts and museum
The church basement contains a museum dedicated to the mosaics in the church as well as to some of the other artifacts found within the cathedral. Also in the church undercroft is a chapel dedicated to the souls of former leaders of the Archdiocese. Currently, Cardinals John J. Glennon, Joseph Ritter, and John Carberry, as well as Archbishop John L. May, are buried in the cathedral's crypt.
The Angel of Harmony
In 1999, a 14-foot high, welded stainless steel sculpture by Wiktor Szostalo was installed on the side lawn of the church. The sculpture was a gift from Adelaide Schlafly in memory of her late husband, Daniel Schlafly, a Catholic layman who was dedicated to the cause of racial justice and peace. It features a winged angel with African-American features, standing behind three children with Hispanic, Asian and European features, playing a song of peace on their instruments. The statue's base is of granite and is inscribed with quotations from the New Testament, Pope John Paul II, and Martin Luther King Jr. The sculpture emphasizes a theme of harmony, peace, and racial justice, according to Auxiliary Bishop Edward Braxton, who suggested the project to Archbishop Justin Rigali.[10]
The organ
The cathedral has a large organ that was originally built by Geo. Kilgen and Son, Inc., in 1915. Originally, the organ had two four-manual (keyboard) organ consoles, one in the gallery with the organ, and another console behind the sanctuary. In 1946, Kilgen put a new organ into the cathedral. The 1946 organ had 77 ranks of pipes, 14 of which came from the older organ. In 1948, an Echo Organ from Carnegie Hall, New York City was installed in the cathedral. In 1984, the M. P. Moller organ company refurbished the organ.
In 1997 the Wicks Organ Company of nearby Highland, Illinois, began a restoration project. They added more ranks of pipes, which brought the organ to 96 ranks of pipes. The company also added some digital stops to the organ. A new four-manual organ console replaced the old Kilgen console behind the sanctuary, and the second gallery console was refurbished. Wicks also updated the organ's electronics.
In the winter of 2002 the gallery organ was expanded, and a new dome division of pipes was added to the organ. The final step in the project, the replacement of the original gallery console (and a smaller, two-manual console that took its place) with a five-manual console was completed in 2010. The Ragen Organ Console, named for its donor, Professor Brian Abel Ragen, was taken from St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City and completely restored. It is now possible to control every part of the organ from either the gallery console or the moveable sanctuary console.
The original Kilgen console was moved into the basement museum, and can be viewed by visitors. The gallery organ is featured on many of Saint Louis's cultural tours.[11][12]
Gallery
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Tomb of Cardinal John Glennon in the crypt -
West aisle -
View of the crossing -
Southeast Pendentive depicting St. Isaac Jogues -
Southwest Pendentive depicting St. Frances Xavier Cabrini -
Northeast Pendentive depicting St. Rose Philippine Duchesne -
Pentecost mosaic in the west transept -
Easter mosaic in the east transept
See also
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- List of tallest domes
- Mary A. Reardon
Footnotes
- ^ a b Herbermann, p. 664
- ^ "Cathedral Staff - Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis". Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
- ^ GCatholic.org, "Basilicas in the United States"
- ^ a b c d Federal Writers' Project, p. 321
- ^ a b c "Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis". Retrieved 2009-04-13.
- ^ "25 Things to Do in St. Louis". 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ a b c d Stevens, p. 1002
- ^ Scharf, p. 1653
- ^ "A History of the Ravenna Mosaic Company". The Ravenna Project. St. Louis University. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ "New sculpture to feature theme of racial harmony". Archdiocese of St. Louis. 1999-05-21. Archived from the original on 2008-05-26. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
- ^ "St. Louis Architectural Scavenger Hunt". letsroam.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
- ^ "STL Cultural Tour". discover-stlouis.com/. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
References
- Federal Writers' Project (1941). Missouri: A Guide to the "Show-Me" State. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce. ISBN 1-60354-024-5.
- Herbermann, Charles George (1922). The Catholic Encyclopedia: Supplement. Vol. XVII. New York: Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
- Scharf, Walter Barlow (1921). Centennial History of Missouri. Vol. IV. St. Louis: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
- Stevens, Thomas J. (1883). History of Saint Louis City and County, From the Earliest Periods to the Present Day: Including Biographical Sketches of Representative Men. In Two Volumes, Illustrated. Vol. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts & Co.
- Faherty, William Barnaby; Abeln, Mark Scott (2009). Catholic St. Louis: A Pictorial History. St. Louis, Mo: Reedy Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-933370-83-5.
External links
- Official Cathedral Site
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis Official Site
- Symmetry at the Cathedral
- Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis: Photo Gallery by The Catholic Photographer
- Regarding the cathedral's pipe organ:
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This page was last edited on 24 April 2024, at 09:03