Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Saint John's Cathedral
|
|
Streetside view of the cathedral, March 2009
|
|
 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 14th and Washington streets Denver, Colorado United States |
|---|---|
| Built | 1909-1911 |
| Architect | Tracy and Swartwout |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000513 |
| Added to NRHP | August 1, 1975 |
Saint John's Cathedral in Denver, Colorado, United States, is the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. It is an important part of the Episcopal Church. Building work started in 1909. The first church service was held there in 1911. In 1975, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a special historical building.
Contents
The Story of Saint John's Cathedral
Early Days and First Church
In January 1860, a priest named Father John H. Kehler came to Denver. Back then, Denver was a group of mining camps. He held the first services for the Episcopal Church in this area. He later started the St. John's in the Wilderness church. It was called "in the Wilderness" because the closest Episcopal church was 700 miles away!
The first cathedral building was at 20th and Welton streets. Its first services were held in 1881. Dean H. Martyn Hart was the first leader of the cathedral. In 1887, he worked with other church leaders to create the Denver Charity Organization. This was the first community charity fund in the United States. It later became known as the United Way.
Building the Current Cathedral
A fire damaged the old church in 1903. This led to the decision to build a new cathedral. The new location was at 14th and Washington streets. In 1908, a design competition was held. The design from the New York architects Tracy and Swartwout was chosen.
Work on Saint John's Cathedral began in 1908. The first design used "flying buttresses." These are supports that help hold up the roof. They allow for thinner walls and more windows. However, this design was too expensive. So, a simpler design was requested. This new plan only included the main part of the church, called the nave. It also had a temporary brick section for the altar.
Even with this simpler design, the building costs were still too high. A third design was then created. This one removed the buttresses and used thicker, heavier walls. But there was a problem! The foundation, which was already built, was too small for these heavier walls. Because of this, parts of the cathedral began to sink during construction. Some walls and the main arch had to be taken apart. The foundation then had to be fixed before building could continue.
The original plans for two side sections, called transepts, and a large tower were never built. Only the nave was completed. It was made of limestone with a "temporary" brick section for the altar. The ceiling inside the nave is 65 feet high. The nave is 185 feet long and 52 feet wide. Dean Hart led the building committee. The first services in the new cathedral were held in 1911.
Beautiful Stained Glass
The stunning stained glass windows were made by Charles Jay Connick's studio. These windows add beautiful colors and light to the cathedral.
Notable Burials
United States Supreme Court Justice Byron White was buried at St. John's Cathedral in 2002.
See Also
