Cathedral Church of St. Luke (Orlando, Florida) facts for kids
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke is a special church called a cathedral in Orlando, Florida, United States. It belongs to the Episcopal Church and is the main church for the Central Florida area.
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Church of St. Luke |
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 Location in Florida
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| 28°32′39.54″N 81°22′40.58″W / 28.5443167°N 81.3779389°W | |
| Location | 130 N. Magnolia Ave. Orlando, Florida |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Frohman, Robb, and Little |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Central Florida |
Contents
History of St. Luke's Cathedral
The story of St. Luke's began with Francis Eppes (1801–1881). He was the grandson of Thomas Jefferson. Francis Eppes was a very religious man. He was also a lay reader, which means he could lead church services.
In 1869, Francis Eppes moved to Orlando, Florida. At that time, Orlando was a small town. He and other families, like the Shines and Summerlins, started a small group. This group became the beginning of St. Luke's Mission in 1881. A "mission" is a new church group. By 1884, it became a full "parish," which is a more established church.
Becoming a Cathedral
The Episcopal Church decided to create a new church area called the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida. The Rev. William Crane Gray was chosen to be its first bishop. A bishop is a high-ranking church leader. He moved to Orlando, and on March 31, 1902, St. Luke's was chosen as the main church, or "Cathedral Church," for South Florida.
The first leader of the Cathedral, called a "Dean," was the Rev. Lucien A. Spencer. Soon, everyone agreed that a bigger, new cathedral building was needed. So, in 1922, the old church was moved. This made space for the new building.
Designing and Building the Cathedral
The famous architectural firm Frohman, Robb, and Little was chosen to design the new cathedral. This firm also designed the very large Washington National Cathedral.
On April 13, 1925, the Rt. Rev. Cameron Mann laid the cornerstone. This is a special stone laid at the start of construction. By 1926, the building was partly finished and could be used. However, Florida was going through a financial depression. This meant there wasn't enough money to finish the church. A temporary wall was put up where the altar should have been.
Completing the Cathedral
Many years later, from 1971 to 1973, the Very Rev. Charles T. Gaskell was the Dean. During this time, the main part of the church, called the nave, was updated. A choir gallery was built over the entrance area, known as the narthex. A large pipe organ with 88 "ranks" (sets of pipes) was also installed.
Finally, from 1986 to 1987, the cathedral was completed. The temporary wall was removed. The church was finished just like the original plans. This happened when the Very Rev. Harry Sherman was Dean. The completed cathedral now includes:
- An apse: a rounded end behind the altar.
- An ambulatory: a walkway around the apse.
- Priests' and working sacristies: rooms where priests prepare for services.
- A tall bell tower.
- The St. Mary Chapel.
Orlando Deanery Boychoir and Girls Choir
The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke is also home to the Orlando Deanery Boychoir and Girls Choir. These choirs are based on old European traditions. They are connected to the Royal School of Church Music in England. The choirs are an important music program of the Cathedral.
These young singers travel around the world. They act as "cultural ambassadors" for the United States and Orlando. This means they represent their city and country through music. They have toured in England. In 2011, they were invited to perform at the White House in Washington D.C. In 2014, they sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They also performed at other famous churches like Saint Thomas Church and St Paul's Chapel in Manhattan.
The Cathedral's Pipe Organ
The large pipe organ at the Cathedral is very special. It was the last instrument built by the Tellers Organ Company. This company was located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is one of the largest organs they ever made.
This organ uses an "electro-pneumatic action" system. This means it uses both electricity and air pressure to make sounds. It was designed to be a very versatile instrument. It can play many different styles of music. The organ was placed in a newly built gallery at the back of the church. The first concert on this organ was on October 21, 1973. It was played by Paul Jenkins, an organ professor from Stetson University.
See also
- List of the Episcopal cathedrals of the United States
- List of cathedrals in Florida
- High church
- List of Anglican churches
- Oxford Movement
