Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (Washington, D.C facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle |
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 Location in Central Washington, D.C.
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| 38°54′22″N 77°2′24″W / 38.90611°N 77.04000°W | |
| Location | 1725 Rhode Island Avenue NW Washington, D.C. |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | stmatthewscathedral.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1840, 185 years ago |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | C. Grant La Farge |
| Style | Renaissance Revival Romanesque Revival |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,000 sitting |
| Length | 155 feet (47 m) |
| Width | 136 feet (41 m) |
| Height | 200 feet (61 m) |
| Number of domes | One |
| Dome height (outer) | 190 feet (58 m) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Washington |
The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, often called St. Matthew's Cathedral, is a very important church in Washington, D.C.. It is the main church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, where the Archbishop (like a lead bishop) works. This beautiful building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
You can find the cathedral in downtown Washington. It is located at 1725 Rhode Island Avenue NW. This is between Connecticut Avenue and 17th Street. The closest subway station is Farragut North. It is also not far from the White House.
St. Matthew's is named after Saint Matthew. He is known as the patron saint of civil servants. This is because he used to be a tax collector. The church started in 1840. It was the fourth Catholic church in Washington, D.C. The first church was at 15th and H Streets. Building the current church began in 1893. The first Mass (a church service) was held there in 1895. The church was fully finished and dedicated in 1913. In 1939, it became the main cathedral for the new Archdiocese of Washington.
The cathedral is made of red brick. It has sandstone and terra cotta decorations. Its style is called Romanesque Revival. It also has some Byzantine design elements. The architect who designed it was C. Grant La Farge. The church is shaped like a Latin cross. It is about 155 feet long and 136 feet wide. It can seat about 1,200 people.
The inside of the church is very fancy. It has lots of marble and shiny stones. There is a huge 35 ft (11 m) mosaic of Saint Matthew. This mosaic is behind the main altar. The church has an octagonal dome. This dome rises 190 ft (58 m) above the main part of the church. A small tower and a cross on top make the total height 200 ft (61 m). The church was cleaned and fixed up between 2000 and 2003. This work finished on Saint Matthew's Feast day.
Famous Events at St. Matthew's Cathedral
Many important events have happened at St. Matthew's. One of the first big funerals was for Manuel L. Quezon. He was the president of the Philippines. He passed away in 1944. In 1957, a special funeral service was held for Senator Joseph McCarthy. Many senators and church leaders attended this service. The church was completely full.
The cathedral became famous worldwide in 1963. This was after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Richard Cardinal Cushing, an Archbishop from Boston, led a special Low Mass (a quiet church service) for the funeral. This happened on November 25, 1963. After the service, the procession went to Arlington National Cemetery.
Other important events include a Mass led by Pope John Paul II. He visited Washington, D.C., in 1979. Also, the funeral for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. was held here in 1997.
In 2005, a funeral service for Chief Justice William Rehnquist took place here. Television newsman Frank Reynolds also had his funeral at the cathedral in 1983. President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan were among the many people who attended.
The Red Mass
St. Matthew's is famous for hosting one of the most well-known Red Masses. This special Mass happens every year. It is held the day before the Supreme Court of the United States starts its new term. During this Mass, people pray for guidance for everyone working in the legal field.
Because the cathedral is in the nation's capital, many important people attend. This includes the Justices of the Supreme Court. Members of Congress and the President's Cabinet also come. Sometimes, even the President of the United States attends. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to attend in 1954. Harry S. Truman attended earlier, but he was Vice President at the time.
Burial Crypt
Near the St. Francis Chapel, there is a special burial crypt. This crypt has eight tombs. These tombs are meant for the archbishops of Washington. Two former archbishops, Patrick Cardinal O’Boyle and James Cardinal Hickey, are buried here. Cardinal William Wakefield Baum was also buried in this crypt in 2015.
