St Patrick's Cathedral
5th Avenue between 50th & 51st
Streets
Built 1853 thru 1888 Architect
James Renwick Jr
Lady Chapel 1901 thru 1906 Architect
Charles T Mathews
The center of religious life for
members of the Archdiocese of New York and the seat of the
Archbishop, St Patrick's Cathedral is almost an expression of
Irish life in the City. Many people in the young City identified
themselves by their affiliations with various fraternal, military
and civic organizations; these were frequently organized along the
lines of nationality, religion, trade or a combination. The
diocese and its parish churches played vital social and political
roles in the lives of young immigrants, helping them adapt to
their new home
Now known as Old
St Patrick's, the cathedral on Prince and Mott streets had
served the Irish immigrant population since 1809. As the City
expanded uptown Archbishop John Hughes foresaw the need for the
church to be nearer the people. Inexpensive land was purchased far
north of the City and construction on the Cathedral started in
1859. The Civil War intervened and the planned eight year
construction schedule was delayed until the Cathedral's dedication
in 1879. Ancillary buildings and additions were completed between
1882 and 1884. The twin spires, strikingly Gothic in the center of
modern Manhattan as they rise 330 feet, were constructed between
1885 and 1888. Renwick's eastern facade was dismantled at the turn
of the last century and replaced by Mathews' Lady Chapel. No
cathedral is ever really complete; many improvements, including a
major renovation in 1945, have been made over the years and
continue
Measured at the exterior St
Patrick's is about 405 feet long and 274 feet wide. The interior
seats more than 2,000 people. The striking windows were crafted in
Chartres, France; Birmingham, England and Boston; Charles Connick
crafted the rose window in the Cathedral's facade; it is thought
to be his finest work
St Patrick's is still the center of
Catholic social, fraternal and political life in the City. Police
and fire department Emerald societies, Knights of Columbus and
other organizations participate in the Cathedral's events.
Politicians come to St Patrick's to worship (or just to be seen);
activists come to protest. The parish of St Patrick's encompasses
a large swath of Midtown (34th to 59th Streets, 3rd to 7th Aves)
and marks the march of life with the usual procession of baptisms,
confirmations, graduations, marriages and funerals
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