Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
Basic information
Location	4431 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Year consecrated	1926
Website	Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett Co.
Architectural style	Neo-Byzantine
Direction of facade	South
Groundbreaking	1907
Year completed	1914
Construction cost	$3,000,000 (1914 dollars)[1]
Specifications
Capacity	2,500 (floor seating) 5,000 (including galleries)[2]
Length	365 feet (111 m)
Width	204 feet (62 m)
Dome height (outer)	227 feet (69 m)
Materials	Granite (exterior) Brick, marble, mosaic tiles (interior)

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, also known as the Saint Louis Cathedral or the New Cathedral, was completed in 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri, as the archdiocesan replacement for the Cathedral of St. Louis, King of France. 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.^[3] Consecration of the church took place more than a decade later on June 29, 1926.^[4] The Cathedral was designated a basilica by Pope John Paul II on April 4, 1997.^[5] The church is known for its large mosaic installation, burial crypts, and the addition of an outdoor sculpture to promote racial harmony.

[edit] 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.^[6] 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.^[9]

However, the initiative for construction was only begun after the elevation of Archbishop John J. Glennon. 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.^[10][11] By 1914, enough of the building was complete for a dedication ceremony, yet full consecration did not take place until June 29, 1926.^[12] Even after consecration, completion of the cathedral's mosaics was not accomplished until 1988.

An interior image of the Cathedral

[edit] 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 one of the largest mosaic collections in the world.^[13]

While the mosaics in the side chapels and sanctuary walls were designed and installed by Tiffany & Co., the mosaics in the main cathedral areas were designed by Albert Oerken.^[14] Installation of the mosaics was completed by dozens of artisans, including Hildreth Meiere, Ravenna Mosaic, Inc,. and Emil Frei, Inc., of St. Louis.^[15] 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.^[16]

"The Angel of Harmony" by Wiktor Szostalo.

[edit] Crypts and museum

The church basement contains a museum dedicated to the mosaics in the church as well as some of the other artifacts found within the Cathedral. Also in the church basement is a mortuary chapel with a number of crypts for former leaders of the Archdiocese. Currently, Cardinals John J. Glennon, Joseph Ritter, and John J. Carberry, as well as Archbishop John L. May are buried in the Cathedral's crypt. Luke E. Hart is also buried there.

[edit] 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 Dr. 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.^[17]

The original Kilgen pipe organ console

Cathedral tintinnabulum, a small bell signifying the status of the church as a basilica

[edit] The organ

The Cathedral has a large organ that was originally built by the Kilgen Organ Company 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 project has one final step, which is to replace the old galley console with another four manual console to replace a smaller two manual console in the gallery. This would allow complete control of the organ from either the gallery console or the sanctuary console. This final step is awaiting funding.

The original Kilgen console was moved into the basement museum, and can be viewed by visitors.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Federal Writers' Project (1941). Missouri: A Guide to the "Show-Me" State. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce. ISBN 1603540245. 
• Herbermann, Charles George (1922). The Catholic Encyclopedia: Supplement. XVII. New York: Encyclopedia Press, Inc.. 
• Scharf, Walter Barlow (1921). Centennial History of Missouri. 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.. II. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts & Co.. 
• Faherty, William Barnaby; Abeln, Mark Scott (2009). Catholic St. Louis: A Pictorial History. St. Louis, Mo: Reedy Press. pp. 176. ISBN 1-933370-83-1. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

• Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Official website
• Symmetry at the Cathedral

• Regarding the Cathedral's pipe organ:
  • The Wicks Organ Web Site
  • The Wicks Organ Page on the Cathedral's organ
  • The Cathedral's Web Page on the organ

Coordinates: 38°38′33″N 90°15′17″W / 38.6425°N 90.2546°W / 38.6425; -90.2546