Christ Cathedral (Salina, Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Christ Cathedral
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 138 South 8th St. Salina, Kansas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Charles Marquendent Burns, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000429 |
| Added to NRHP | July 6, 2010 |
Christ Cathedral is a very important church in Salina, Kansas. It is the main church, called a cathedral church, for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas. This beautiful building is located in the United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2010. This means it is a special historical place.
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History of Christ Cathedral
Episcopalians are a type of Christian church. In the early days, Episcopalians in Salina met in a general store. They also used church buildings of other Christian groups. In 1872, the first Episcopal church in the city was formed. It was called Christ Church. They built a simple wooden church building that year.
Later, a new plan was made for a bigger, grander cathedral. This idea came from the Right Rev. Sheldon M. Griswold. He was the first bishop of the Missionary District of Salina.
A kind lady named Sarah E. Batterson from New York helped make this dream come true. She was the widow of a reverend named Herman Batterson. She wanted to honor her husband's memory. So, she gave a lot of money to build the new cathedral.
Mrs. Batterson had some special requests for the building. She wanted a friend of her husband, Charles Marquendent Burns, Jr., to design it. He was an architect from Philadelphia. She also wanted chairs in the main part of the church, called the nave, instead of long benches called pews. She insisted that these chairs be free for everyone and not assigned to specific families.
Bishop Griswold first asked for about $10,000 to $15,000. Mrs. Batterson offered $25,000, then increased it to $35,000. In the end, her gifts added up to over $50,000!
The first stone of the cathedral, called the cornerstone, was laid on May 29, 1906. The first church service in the new cathedral was held on January 8, 1908. A company from Topeka, Kansas, named Cuthbert and Sons, built the church. There are also other buildings on the cathedral property. A parish hall was built in 1948. An education and office building was finished in 1956.
Architecture and Design
The cathedral has a special shape, like a cross, which is called cruciform. It faces towards the east. A bell tower stands where the arms of the cross meet. This tower holds 23 bells, which together are called a carillon. The tower also has eight windows with screens. It is topped with eight tall, pointed decorations called pinnacles.
You can enter the cathedral from the front or from the two side sections, called transepts. The area where the choir sings and the altar is located, called the choir and chancel, has nine beautiful stained glass windows. There are also windows in the main part of the church and in the transepts. Most of these windows tell a story called "Following the Steps in the Ministry of Christ." Above the main entrance, there is a special window called the Ascension window. It was made in 1961 by J. & R. Lamb Studios.
Off the north transept, there is a small area called St. Michael's Chapel. Off the south transept, you can find rooms for the acolytes (people who help during services), the choir, and a restroom. The entire building covers about 6,400 square feet (590 square meters).
Building Materials
The outside of the cathedral is completely covered in limestone. This stone came from a quarry in Chase County, Kansas. That's about 95 miles southeast of Salina. The stone used for the entrance steps and door sills came from Lyon County, Kansas. The smooth, cut stone used for details on the cathedral came from Silverdale, Kansas.
Inside, the walls are also covered in limestone. The church can seat 220 people. The original chairs are still used today! They were made in Chicago and are black-stained oak with cane seats. The floor tiles in the chancel and choir have symbols from early Christianity. They were made by the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Special Features Inside
The canopies over the bishop's special chair (called a cathedra), the dean's stall, and the canon stalls are hand-carved. They are made of oak stained black. The official symbol of the diocese, called a coat of arms, is carved into the back of the bishop's chair. The choir stalls, where the choir sits, are simpler. The pulpit, where sermons are given, and the lectern, where readings are done, are also carved from oak.
At the center of the church, where the main part meets the choir, there is a large wooden beam called a rood beam. This beam was added in 1918. It is a memorial to Sarah E. Batterson, who donated so much money for the cathedral. The carvings on the beam were done by Alois Lang. He also carved the statue of St. Paul, which is in a special spot in the pulpit.
The church has a large pipe organ. The first organ was built in 1918. The current organ was designed in 1977 by Canon Royce Young. It was built by the M. P. Moller Pipe Organ Company.
The main altar, called the high altar, is carved from Carthage marble. The center carving shows a symbol of Christ the Savior. It is surrounded by two four-leaf shapes called quatrefoils. Behind the altar is a carved screen called a reredos. It is made from Silverdale limestone and has four pinnacles on top.
There is also another altar called St. Mary's Altar. It is in the northwest corner of the north transept. This is the oldest altar in the cathedral. It was first used by Christ Church parish in 1887. It is carved from oak and has three panels. The middle panel shows the symbol of Christ the Savior. The words "IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME" are carved along the front of the altar.
See also
