Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Burlington, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Church of St. Paul |
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| 44°28′47.44″N 73°13′6.27″W / 44.4798444°N 73.2184083°W | |
| Location | 2 Cherry St. Burlington, Vermont |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| History | |
| Founded | 1830 |
| Consecrated | November 11, 1973 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Burlington Associates |
| Style | Modern |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | stressed concrete |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Vermont |
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul is an Episcopal cathedral in Burlington, Vermont. A cathedral is the main church for a large religious area, called a diocese. This church is the main one for the Diocese of Vermont.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The First Church
The story of St. Paul's Church began in 1830. About 55 people gathered in a Burlington hotel to start a new church. Their first service was held in the local courthouse in 1831. A year later, they built their own church building.
The first church was made of stone in the Gothic Revival style. This style was popular at the time and made buildings look like old, grand European churches. As more people joined the church, the building was made larger in 1851, 1866, and 1910.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1965, the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont chose St. Paul's to be its official cathedral. This was a big honor for the church. It was formally given the title of cathedral on May 6, 1966.
Fire and a New Beginning
A major fire destroyed the old St. Paul's Cathedral on February 15, 1971. The fire was caused by an electrical problem in the basement. At the time, the city of Burlington was doing a large project to improve the downtown area.
The city offered the church a deal. They exchanged the land where the burned church stood for a new piece of land. This new spot had a beautiful view of Lake Champlain. A team of architects called Burlington Associates designed the new, modern cathedral. It was finished in 1973.
Architecture and Design
The new St. Paul's Cathedral looks very different from the old one. It is a great example of Brutalist architecture, a style known for using raw, exposed concrete. The walls have interesting textures and patterns from the wooden forms used to shape the concrete.
Inside the Cathedral
The inside of the cathedral has simple and natural materials. The furniture is made of white oak, and the floor is made of slate, a type of stone. The building gets a lot of natural light from skylights in the ceiling. A huge glass wall gives visitors an amazing view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.
The Bells of St. Paul's
The cathedral has a bell tower, called a campanile, with eight bells. These bells were saved from the old church. They were made in 1895 in Troy, New York. After the fire, the bells were cleaned up and hung in the new tower.
A ninth bell cracked during the fire. It could no longer be rung, so it now sits at the bottom of the tower. It is near the gate to the Memorial Garden.
The Memorial Garden
Next to the church is a peaceful Memorial Garden. It is a place where the ashes of church members are buried. The garden is enclosed by stonework that includes stones saved from the original St. Paul's church building.
See also
