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 special church in Salina, Kansas, United States. It's the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas. This beautiful building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2010, meaning it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of Christ Cathedral
Early Beginnings
Long ago, people of the Episcopal faith in Salina first met in a general store. They also used church buildings from other Christian groups. In 1872, the first Episcopal church in the city, called Christ Church, was created. A simple wooden church building was built that same year.
The first bishop for the Salina area was named Right Rev. Sheldon M. Griswold. He was the first person to dream of building a grand new cathedral for the community.
A Special Gift for the Cathedral
A kind woman named Sarah E. Batterson from New York wanted to honor her late husband, Rev. Herman Batterson. She decided to donate a lot of money to build the cathedral we see today. Her gift came with a few rules.
First, she wanted her husband's friend, Charles Marquendent Burns, Jr., to design the building. He was an architect from Philadelphia. Second, she wanted chairs in the main part of the church instead of long benches called pews. She also insisted that these chairs be free for everyone and not assigned to specific people.
Bishop Griswold first asked for about $10,000 to $15,000 for the project. Mrs. Batterson generously offered $25,000, and then increased her gift to $35,000. In the end, her total donations were more than $50,000!
Building the Cathedral
The first stone of the cathedral, called the cornerstone, was placed on May 29, 1906. The first church service inside the new cathedral happened on January 8, 1908. A company called Cuthbert and Sons from Topeka, Kansas, built the church.
Over the years, other buildings were added to the cathedral property. A parish hall, which is a community building, was built in 1948. A two-story building for education and offices was finished in 1956.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Cathedral
Christ Cathedral is shaped like a cross, which is called "cruciform." It faces towards the east. A tall bell tower stands where the arms of the cross meet the main body of the church. This tower holds a carillon, which is a set of 23 bells that can play music. The tower also has eight windows with screens and is topped with eight pointed decorations called pinnacles.
You can enter the cathedral from the front or from the two side sections, known as transepts. The outside of the cathedral is completely covered in limestone. This stone came from quarries in Chase County, Kansas, which is about 95 miles southeast of Salina. The stone for the entrance steps and door sills came from Lyon County, Kansas. The smooth, finished stone used on the cathedral was quarried in Silverdale, Kansas.
Inside the Cathedral
The inside walls of the cathedral are also covered in limestone. The church can seat 220 people. The original chairs, made in Chicago, are still used today. They are made of black-stained oak wood with cane seats and kneelers.
The floor tiles in the chancel (the area around the altar) and the choir (where the singers sit) have symbols from early Christianity. These special tiles were made in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The beautiful wooden canopies above the bishop's special chair (called a cathedra), the dean's seat, and the canon's seats are hand-carved from oak. The official symbol of the diocese is carved into the back of the bishop's chair. The choir seats have a simpler design. The pulpit (where sermons are given) and the lectern (where readings are done) are also carved from oak.
Special Features and Art
At the center of the church, where the main aisle meets the choir, there is a rood beam. This beam was added in 1918 to honor Sarah E. Batterson, who gave 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's first pipe organ was built in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1977, a new organ was installed. It was designed by Canon Royce Young and built by the M. P. Moller Pipe Organ Company in Hagerstown, Maryland.
The main altar, called the high altar, is carved from Carthage marble. It has a carving of Christ the Savior in the middle, with two four-leaf shapes next to it. The screen behind the altar, called the reredos, is carved from Silverdale limestone. It has four pinnacles topped with decorative carvings.
There is also another altar called St. Mary's Altar in the northwest corner of the north transept. This is the oldest altar in the cathedral, as 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, with the Alpha and Omega symbols on either side. The words "IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME" are carved along the top front of this altar.
See also
