St. Andrew's Cathedral (Jackson, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Andrew's Cathedral |
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 Location in Mississippi
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| 32°17′57.22″N 90°11′1.87″W / 32.2992278°N 90.1838528°W | |
| Location | 305 E. Capitol St. Jackson, Mississippi |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1839 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1903 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Mississippi |
St. Andrew's Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral located in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. It is the main church for the Diocese of Mississippi. This means it is where the bishop of the diocese has their official seat. St. Andrew's is the third church to serve as the main cathedral for the diocese.
Contents
History of St. Andrew's Cathedral
Early Years and Growth
St. Andrew's began as a small mission in 1839. A mission is like a new church group starting up. The Episcopal Church in New York sent a priest, along with hymnals and prayer books. At first, only eight people were regular members.
By 1843, St. Andrew's became a full parish within the Diocese of Mississippi. A parish is a local church community. At that time, it was the only parish not located along the Mississippi River.
Challenges and Rebuilding
During the American Civil War, in 1863, the church building was burned by the Union Army. After the war, a new church was needed. The first stone for the second church was laid in 1869 by Bishop William Mercer Green.
By the early 1900s, the church community had grown too large for its building. The current church structure was finished in 1903. A separate Parish House was built between 1923 and 1924.
Expanding the Campus
The church community continued to grow. A new building was constructed along West Street in 1955. The bishop moved his offices into this new building. The area behind the church was turned into a peaceful courtyard. An additional wing on the east side of the church was built in 1987.
Becoming a Cathedral
In the Episcopal Church in the United States, cathedrals were not very common until the Oxford Movement began. This movement encouraged more traditional church practices. The Diocese of Mississippi did not have a cathedral for many years.
St. Peter's Church in Oxford was named the first cathedral. This happened when Bishop Hugh M. Thompson was in charge. Later, Bishop Thompson moved to Jackson. He believed the cathedral should be in the city where he lived.
So, St. Columba's Church was named the diocesan cathedral next. It served this purpose until shortly after Bishop Thompson passed away. St. Andrew's grew to be the largest parish in the diocese. On January 19, 1966, it was officially made the cathedral. It became the third church in the diocese to hold this important role.
Architecture of St. Andrew's Cathedral
Building Style and Features
St. Andrew's Cathedral was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style brings back elements of medieval Gothic buildings. When it was first built, the roof had a pointed section called a gable in the middle of each side. These gables had fancy decorations, typical of the late Victorian period.
After a fire in 1930, these roof decorations were made simpler. The inside of the main church area, called the sanctuary, has a cruciform shape. This means it looks like a cross when viewed from above. You can see this shape in the center aisle and where the aisles cross, called the crossing. However, there are no side sections, called transepts, that stick out to make this cross shape visible from the outside.
Windows and Interior Details
The windows throughout the church were originally made of amber-colored glass. Since the 1950s, these have been replaced with beautiful stained glass windows. Each of these new windows was given as a special memorial to someone.
The original altar (the table where communion is served), lectern (where readings are given), and pulpit (where sermons are preached) were made of carved wood. Later, a marble altar, a bronze winged angel, and a new pulpit were added as memorials.
The church pews, where people sit, all have a special carving on the end. It's a three-leaf shape called a trefoil, which represents the Trinity. You can also see an X-shaped cross, known as a saltire, in several places in the cathedral. This is the special symbol for St. Andrew, after whom the cathedral is named.
See also
- List of the Episcopal cathedrals of the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Mississippi)
