Washington National Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Washington National Cathedral
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Washington National Cathedral is officially dedicated as the "Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington"
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wisconsin Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. |
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| Built | 1906 to 1988 |
| Architect | George Frederick Bodley, Philip Hubert Frohman |
| Architectural style | Neo-Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002170 |
| Added to NRHP | May 3, 1974 |
The Washington National Cathedral is a famous church in Washington, D.C.. Its full name is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It belongs to the Episcopal Church, which is a Christian group. The cathedral is built in a Neo-Gothic style. This means it looks like the grand Gothic churches built in England a long time ago.
It is the second-largest church in the United States. It is also the third-tallest building in Washington, D.C. The cathedral is an important place for the Episcopal Church. It is the main church for both the leader of the Episcopal Church, Michael Bruce Curry, and the local bishop, Mariann Edgar Budde. More than 270,000 people visit this amazing building every year.
A group called the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation started building the cathedral. They got permission from the United States Congress in 1893. Construction began on September 29, 1907. President Theodore Roosevelt was there when the first stone was laid. The building was finished 83 years later in 1990. President George H. W. Bush was present for the final touches. The cathedral is still being worked on today. This includes fixing damage from an earthquake in 2011. The Foundation is in charge of all the buildings on the cathedral grounds.
The cathedral is located at Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues. It is part of the Washington Theological Consortium, a group of religious schools. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2007, it was named one of America's favorite buildings. This was by the American Institute of Architects.
Contents
Building the Cathedral: A Long Journey
How Construction Began
In 1792, Pierre L'Enfant planned a "great church for national purposes." This church was meant for everyone, not just one religion. However, this idea was changed later. In 1891, people started planning for an Episcopal cathedral in Washington. On January 6, 1893, Congress gave permission to build it. They said the church could also have schools to promote religion and education.
The chosen spot was a high place called Mount Saint Alban. Henry Yates Satterlee, the first Episcopal bishop of Washington, chose George Frederick Bodley as the main architect. Bodley was a top church architect from Britain. Henry Vaughan helped supervise the building.
Construction started on September 29, 1907. President Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech. The first stone was put in place. In 1912, a small chapel called Bethlehem Chapel opened. Services have been held there every day since. Both Bodley and Vaughan passed away during World War I. After the war, John J. Pershing helped raise money. American architect Philip Hubert Frohman then took over the design. All the money for the cathedral has come from private donations. Its upkeep still relies on private support.
- Construction of the Washington National Cathedral
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A National Place of Prayer
From the very beginning, the cathedral was meant to be more than just a church. People hoped it would be like Westminster Abbey in England. They wanted it to be a national shrine. It would be a place for important services for the whole country. This idea was often called "a house of prayer for all people." Today, it is known as a "national house of prayer."
The government did not officially make it a national house of prayer. Instead, it became one because leaders and the public accepted it in that role. During World War II, special services were held there every month. These services were for the whole country during a difficult time. The cathedral has hosted many other important events. These include both religious and non-religious gatherings. They have drawn attention from Americans and visitors worldwide.
Important Events and Services
Major Services and Funerals
The cathedral has hosted state funerals for four American presidents:
- 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1969)
- 40th President Ronald Reagan (2004)
- 38th President Gerald Ford (2007)
- 41st President George H. W. Bush (2018)
Memorial services for other presidents have also taken place there. These include Warren G. Harding, William Howard Taft, and Richard Nixon.
Special prayer services have been held the day after many presidential inaugurations. This tradition started with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. It has continued with presidents like Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.
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Many other important events have been held at the cathedral. These include:
- Funerals for former first ladies like Edith Wilson and Eleanor Roosevelt.
- A memorial service for the victims of the Vietnam War in 1982.
- A memorial service for the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
- The funeral for civil rights leader Dorothy Height in 2010.
- A memorial service for astronaut Neil Armstrong in 2012.
- A service for Nelson Mandela, the former South African President, in 2014.
- A prayer vigil for the March for Our Lives rally in 2018.
- The funeral for U.S. Senator John McCain in 2018.
- A service of Thanksgiving for Matthew Shepard in 2018.
- The funeral for former Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2021.
- A memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
On March 31, 1968, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. gave his last Sunday sermon at the cathedral. This was just days before he was assassinated. A memorial service for him was held there later that week.
Earthquake Damage and Repairs
In August 2011, the cathedral was damaged by an earthquake. Some stone decorations on top of the towers broke off. Other parts twisted or fell. Some gargoyles were damaged. A hole was even made in the roof by falling stones. Inside, cracks appeared in the large supports called flying buttresses. The cathedral did not have earthquake insurance. This made it hard to pay for the repairs.
The cathedral closed for a few months to make the building safe. Safety nets were put up inside to protect visitors. It reopened in November 2011. At that time, the cost to fix the damage was estimated at $25 million. It took three years to raise the first $15 million needed for repairs. The cathedral started charging a $10 admission fee for tourists in 2014. They also began renting out parts of the building to other groups. A coffee shop was opened in an old building nearby to help raise money.
The first phase of repairs, costing $10 million, was finished in 2015. This fixed the stone and mortar on the inside ceiling. The next phase will cost $22 million over 10 years. This will repair or replace the damaged stones on top of the cathedral. In 2015, leaders said they needed $200 million. This money would finish repairs and create a fund to keep the cathedral financially stable.
Changing Stained Glass Windows
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In 2016, a group studied two stained glass windows. These windows honored Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. They also showed images of the Confederate battle flag. The windows were put in place in 1953. The study group decided that the windows could help people talk about race and slavery.
On September 6, 2017, the cathedral announced its decision. They would remove the stained glass windows honoring Lee and Jackson. On September 23, 2023, new windows were put in their place. These are called the "Now and Forever Windows." They were designed by artist Kerry James Marshall.
Cathedral Finances
The cathedral faced financial challenges around 2008. Its budget was cut from $27 million to $13 million by 2010. Many staff members were laid off. Programs and music performances were reduced. To help, the cathedral started an $11 million fundraising campaign. It also used some of its savings. The group that raises money, the National Cathedral Association, was restarted.
In 2010, the cathedral considered selling its rare book collection. Some books were sold in 2011. Most of the rest were given to a seminary in 2013. A report showed that $30 million was needed for repairs. This included fixing mortar, plumbing, and the main organ. The cathedral continues to rely on donations and visitor fees to support its work.
Amazing Architecture
The cathedral's design mixes different Gothic styles from the Middle Ages. You can see pointed arches, flying buttresses, and beautiful ceiling vaulting. It has many stained-glass windows and carved stone decorations. There are three similar towers. Two are at the front, and one is over the middle of the church.
The building is long and narrow. It has a main area called the nave and a chancel near the altar. A large transept crosses the main part. The Gloria in Excelsis Tower is above the crossing. It rises 301 feet high. Its top is the highest point in Washington, D.C. You can get great views of the city from the Pilgrim Observation Gallery. This gallery is high up in the west towers.
The central tower has two sets of bells. There is a 53-bell carillon and a 10-bell peal for change ringing. The change bells are rung by members of the Washington Ringing Society. The cathedral sits on 57 acres of land on Mount Saint Alban. A large porch on the south side has a big entrance with carved art. Long, wide steps lead up to this entrance.
Most of the building is made from buff-colored Indiana limestone. This stone covers a traditional masonry core. Steel is used for the roof's supports. Concrete is used for the bell supports and floors in the west towers.
The pulpit was carved from stones from Canterbury Cathedral in England. The bishop's special seat, the cathedra, uses stone from Glastonbury Abbey. The main altar, called the Jerusalem Altar, is made from stones from Solomon's Quarry near Jerusalem. This is where stones for Solomon's Temple were supposedly taken. In front of the altar, there are ten stones from Mount Sinai. These represent the Ten Commandments.
The cathedral has over 200 stained glass windows. One of the most famous is the Space Window. It honors the landing on the Moon. It even has a piece of lunar rock in its center. This rock was added in 1974, five years after the Apollo 11 mission. The building also has beautiful ironwork, woodcarvings, and murals. Many decorations have Christian symbols. But the cathedral also honors important American people and events. You can see statues of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. State seals are in the floor, and state flags hang in the nave.
The cathedral was built with some small, intentional "flaws." This is like an old tradition that suggests only God can be perfect. These small differences also help the building look better from far away. The crypt chapels are built in older styles. This makes it seem like the cathedral grew from earlier churches.
Many funny or scary grotesques and gargoyles decorate the outside. One famous one is a carving of Darth Vader. It is high up on the northwest tower. The west front of the cathedral shows carvings of Creation. This is different from older churches that showed the Last Judgment. All the carvings here were designed by Frederick Hart. The west rose window is a symbol of the cathedral. It shows the creation of light in an abstract way.
The cathedral has a basement. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was filled with water. This was in case of a nuclear war, to provide emergency drinking water.
Who Designed It?
The main plan for the cathedral was made by George Frederick Bodley. He was a famous British architect. His design was inspired by Canterbury Cathedral. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. designed the landscaping around the cathedral. After Bodley died in 1907, his partner Henry Vaughan changed the design. But work stopped during World War I. Vaughan died in 1917.
After the war, Philip Hubert Frohman took over the design. He was a very talented architect. He improved Bodley's plan. He added the carillon section of the central tower. He also made the west front larger. Frohman worked on the cathedral until he died in 1972. By then, the final plans were complete. The building was finished based on his designs.
Leadership and Support
The cathedral is the main church for the Bishop of Washington, Mariann Edgar Budde. It is also the main church for the leader of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry. Bishop Budde was chosen in 2011. She is the first woman to be the bishop of the diocese.
The National Cathedral Association (NCA) helps raise money for the cathedral. It has over 14,000 members across the United States. Most of them live outside Washington. Visitors also give money through donations and tour fees. Each year, every state has a special day at the cathedral. On this day, the state is mentioned in prayers. Every few years, there is a "Major State Day." People from that state are encouraged to visit. Important people from the state are invited to speak.
The cathedral's budget was $27 million in 2008. It was cut to $13 million in 2010. The staff was reduced from 170 to 70 people. The cathedral has an endowment, which is a fund of money, of $50 million.
Cathedral Deans
The Dean is the main leader of the cathedral. In May 2016, Randolph Marshall Hollerith became the current Dean.
Some Past Cathedral Deans:
- Alfred Harding (1909–1916)
- George C. F. Bratenahl (1916–1936)
- Francis B. Sayre Jr. (1951–1978)
- Nathan D. Baxter (1991–2003)
- Samuel T. Lloyd III (2005–2011)
- Gary R. Hall (2012–2015)
Worship and Services
The worship at the cathedral follows the traditions of the Episcopal Church. It uses the Book of Common Prayer. Three services are held every weekday. This includes the daily Eucharist, which is a communion service. From Sunday to Thursday, the cathedral choirs sing Evensong. This service lasts about 40 minutes. On Sundays, three Eucharist services are held, along with Choral Evensong.
The cathedral has also hosted other religious groups. These include a Jewish synagogue and an Eastern Orthodox community. It is also a place for ecumenical and interfaith services. This means services that include different Christian groups or different religions.
Every Christmas, the cathedral holds special services. These are broadcast around the world. The service of lessons and carols is shared by Public Radio International. Christmas at Washington National Cathedral is a live TV broadcast of the Christmas Day service. It is shown on TV stations across the United States.
Music at the Cathedral
The cathedral has a rich music program. The Director of Music is Canon Michael McCarthy.
Choirs
The Washington National Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys started in 1909. It is one of the few choirs in the U.S. with its own school. The boys, aged 8 to 14, attend St. Albans School. They receive scholarships for their singing.
In 1997, the Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls was formed. It uses the same men as the boys' choir. The girls attend the National Cathedral School on vocal scholarships. Both choirs sing for services. They sometimes perform together.
The choirs rehearse every weekday morning. The boy choristers sing Evensong on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The girl choristers sing on Mondays and Wednesdays. The choirs take turns singing for Sunday services. They also sing for many national events. Their Christmas performance is broadcast nationally every year.
The Cathedral Choral Society is the main symphonic chorus at the cathedral.
The Great Organ
The Great Organ was put in the cathedral in 1938. It first had about 8,400 pipes. It was made larger in 1963 and again between 1970 and 1975. Today, it has 189 ranks and 10,647 pipes.
Organ Renovation
The organ needs major repairs. About a third of it could not be played. Plans are being made to renovate the instrument. This will be done by Foley-Baker Inc. from 2024 to 2028. It will cost $14 million. The organ will be taken apart and rebuilt. It will have 172 ranks and 9,787 pipes when finished. A new section will be added in the Nave. This will make the organ sound clearer to listeners. Many pipes from the original 1938 instrument will be reused. New pipes will be added to blend with the old ones.
Bells
The cathedral is special because it has both a carillon and a set of change ringing bells. The 10 change ringing bells were made in London in 1962. They are rung in the English style.
The carillon has 53 bells. They range from 17 pounds to 24,000 pounds. They were made in England in 1963. These bells are fixed in place. They are played by hammers from a keyboard.
Modern Music
Since 2016, the cathedral has added more modern music to its services. The 9:00 AM Sunday service now includes contemporary language and music. This has involved collaborations with groups like Theodicy Jazz Collective. Since 2020, the main Sunday service at 11:15 AM has a mix of contemporary and traditional music. This includes African American spirituals and ensemble music.
Burials at the Cathedral
Many important Americans are buried in Washington National Cathedral. Some are in the main church, and others are in a special room called a columbarium.
- Larz Anderson (ashes), a diplomat. His wife Isabel Weld Perkins is also buried with him.
- Thomas John Claggett, the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
- George Dewey, a U.S. Navy admiral.
- Philip H. Frohman (ashes), one of the cathedral's architects.
- Helen Keller (ashes), a famous author and advocate for the blind and deaf.
- John Raleigh Mott, a leader of the YMCA.
- Matthew Shepard (ashes), a notable LGBT figure.
- Anne Sullivan (ashes), Helen Keller's teacher. She was the first woman buried here.
- Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States. He is the only U.S. president buried in Washington, D.C. His tomb includes symbols of his presidency and universities.
- Edith Wilson, Woodrow Wilson's second wife and former First Lady.
Schools on the Grounds
There are three private Episcopal schools located on the cathedral grounds:
- Beauvoir School: A school for boys and girls from preschool to 3rd grade.
- St. Albans School: An all-boys school for grades four through twelve.
- National Cathedral School: An all-girls school for grades four through twelve.
Images for kids
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Donation Thanks Engraving
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Vaulting in northwest cloister
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Pilgrim Observation Gallery
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Flying buttresses
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Side view of The Washington National Cathedral, with earthquake construction
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There is a placard for every state from the United States
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Statue of George Washington (by Lee Lawrie)
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The Space Window
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GITMO stone inscribed in 1964 as a gift to the cathedral from those at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
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Mount Sinai stone
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Women's porch
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South transept tympanum
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Detail of figures flanking south doors
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Encaustic mural of the burial of Jesus in the Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea
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Stained glass window depicting major events of the life of Confederate General Robert E. Lee; removed in 2017
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Stained glass window depicting the life of Stonewall Jackson; removed in 2017
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Stained glass depicting Charles Warren
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Stained glass dedicated to Andrew Carnegie
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Darth Vader Grotesque
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The rood in the chancel arch, high above the screen separating the nave from the choir
