Saint Patrick's Cathedral (New York City, New York)

330-foot Neo-Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral completed in 1879. Designed by James Renwick, Jr., it is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and a parish church, located directly across the street from Rockefeller Center and specifically facing the Atlas statue.

On August 15, 1858, the cornerstone was laid, just south of the diocese's orphanage. At that time, present-day midtown Manhattan was far north of the populous areas of New York City, and the surrounding area was mostly farmland. Work was halted during the Civil War and resumed in 1865. The archbishop's house and rectory were added in 1880, both by James Renwick, Jr., and an adjacent school (no longer in existence) opened in 1882. The spires were added in 1888, and at 329 feet and 6 inches were the tallest structures in New York City and the second highest in the United States. An addition on the east, including a Lady chapel, designed by Charles T. Matthews, was constructed from 1901 to 1906.

The cathedral, which can accommodate 3,000 people, is built of brick clad in marble, on a granite base. Taking up a whole city block, it is 174 feet wide at the transepts and 332 feet long. Cruciform in plan, its most conspicuous feature is the west front on Fifth Avenue where two identical tower are topped with octagonal spires decorated with flame-like tracery. The transition from the square bases of the towers to the octagonal form of the spires is skillfully made by means of pinnacles which rise above the transition point at the corners.

The bronze main entrance doors, crowned by a traceried gable, are the focal point of the Fifth Avenue facade. Each door weighs 9,280 pounds; carved into their facades are figures of holy men and women, including: St. Joseph, St. Isaac Jogues, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Patrick, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Above the entrance is a rose window displaying flamboyant tracery surmounted by a high ornamented gable flanked by pinnacles. This theme is repeated at the transept doors on the side streets. Along their entire lengths, the side walls are given a strong rhythm where massive buttresses alternate with pointed windows.

In 1906 the Lady Chapel was added to the east end. It is octagonal, with pointed-arch windows topped by trefoil gables with finials. A copper roof ends in a delicate fleche spire and statue.

www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/
www.amny.com/secrets-of-new-york/secrets-of-st-patrick-...
 cathedralchurchNRHP - National Register of Historic PlacesNeo-Gothic (architecture)historic landmark1879_construction
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:  40°45'30"N 73°58'34"W

Comments

  • i wish to visit the cathedral someday..
  • Me toooooooooooooooooooo!
  • The blue pic above, the one with 3 taxis parked in front of the church is the present day structure of the church. Note the new facade of the lower ground floor, after some renovation,they are now built with steel post and wooden panel at the front and side wall. This pic was personal shot taken by my daughter last April 2010, when she visited New York for a training seminar in IBM Learning Center in Armonk, New York.