Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Spokane, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist |
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View from southwest in 2009
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 Location in Washington (state)
Location in the United States
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| 47°38′42″N 117°24′36″W / 47.645°N 117.41°W | |
| Location | 127 E 12th Avenue Spokane, Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| History | |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founder(s) | Edward Makin Cross |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Harold C. Whitehouse |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1924 |
| Completed | 1954 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1000 |
| Length | 257 feet |
| Height | 180 feet (55 m) |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Episcopal Diocese of Spokane |
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is a very important church in Spokane, Washington. It is the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane. This grand building was created when three smaller churches in Spokane joined together on October 20, 1929.
Building the cathedral began in 1925. It was mostly finished in about 30 years. The main architect was Harold C. Whitehouse. You can find this beautiful church in the Rockwood neighborhood, on Spokane's South Hill.
If you want to visit, the cathedral is usually open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. You can often take a guided tour on Fridays from 11 AM to 2 PM. On Sundays, tours are available right after the last morning service. These tours usually last about 45 minutes.
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History of the Cathedral
The idea for a new cathedral started in 1924. This was soon after Bishop Edward Makin Cross arrived in Spokane. He dreamed of building a large cathedral on the South Hill. It would replace the older All Saints Cathedral downtown.
Bishop Cross hired Harold C. Whitehouse, who was a member of the church, to design it. They chose a vacant piece of land where an important Spokane resident, Francis H. Cook, once lived. The cathedral sits on a hill about 2,160 feet (658 meters) above sea level. Grand Boulevard, a main road, goes right in front of the cathedral and then slopes down into downtown Spokane. Because it's on top of a hill, the cathedral is a clear landmark you can see from many parts of downtown.
Designing the Cathedral
Harold C. Whitehouse traveled around Europe to find ideas for the design. He decided to use the English Gothic style, with some French influences. This style is known for its tall arches, pointed windows, and detailed carvings.
The first part of the cathedral to be built was the nave, which is the main area where people sit. This section was finished in late 1929. The first church services were held there just ten days before the stock market crash of 1929. This big economic event caused construction to stop for almost 20 years.
Building started again in 1948. The rest of the church, including the chancel, sanctuary, transepts, and the tall Gothic tower, were completed by 1954.
Amazing Features of the Cathedral
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The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is built entirely from cut stone. It's a very strong building with no wood or steel used for its main structure. The outside is made of sandstone from near Tacoma, Washington. The inside uses sandstone from Idaho and some limestone from Indiana.
Bishop Cross Tower and Carillon
The main tower is called Bishop Cross Tower. It's named after Bishop Edward Makin Cross, who helped start the cathedral. Inside the tower is a special musical instrument called a carillon. This carillon has 49 bells! It's one of only a few in the Northwest United States. The bells were made and put in place by an English company called John Taylor & Sons.
You can hear carillon concerts during Sunday services and at other special times. The best place to listen to the beautiful bell music is from outside the cathedral, on the nearby grounds.
Art and Music Inside
The cathedral is filled with amazing art. The carvings, made by artists like Ole Sunde and Arcangelo Cascieri, show symbols from many different faiths. The colorful stained glass windows are in the classic Gothic style. They were created by the Charles J. Connick firm and later by Willet Hauser Architectural Glass. These windows tell stories and let beautiful light into the church.
The Cathedral Organ is another incredible feature. It has 4,039 pipes! This huge organ was built in 1957 by the Aeolian-Skinner Company. It was designed to play all kinds of organ music. Even the smallest pipes can be heard clearly throughout the entire building. Organ concerts are held here throughout the year.
See also
