St. James Cathedral (Seattle) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. James Cathedral |
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Panoramic view of the western façade
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 St. James Cathedral
Location in Seattle WA Downtown
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| 47°36′28″N 122°19′33″W / 47.6077°N 122.3258°W | |
| Location | 804 Ninth Avenue Seattle, Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Seattle Landmark |
| Designated | March 12, 1984 |
| Architect(s) | Heins & LaFarge |
| Style | Renaissance Revival |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome height (outer) | 120 feet (37 m) – collapsed in 1916; never rebuilt |
| Number of spires | Two |
| Spire height | 167 feet (51 m) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Seattle |
St. James Cathedral is a large Catholic church located in Seattle, Washington. It stands on Ninth Avenue in the First Hill neighborhood. This cathedral is the main church for the Archdiocese of Seattle. It is also where the archbishop, currently Paul D. Etienne, has his official seat.
The cathedral is named after Saint James the Greater. He is the special patron saint of the archdiocese. St. James Cathedral is actually the third church in this area to be named after him.
The idea for a new cathedral in Seattle started in 1903. This was when Bishop Edward O'Dea decided to move the main church office from Vancouver, Washington, to Seattle. Construction of the cathedral began in 1905. It was officially opened in 1907. In 1916, the cathedral had to be repaired after its dome fell down. Other big repairs happened in 1950 and 1994. In 1984, the cathedral building, its rectory (priest's house), and the land around it were named city landmarks.
Contents
History of St. James Cathedral
The Catholic Church in this region began in Vancouver, Washington, in 1850. It was called the Diocese of Nesqually. The first bishop, Augustin-Magloire Blanchet, opened a cathedral there in 1851.
Building a New Cathedral in Seattle
Later, Bishop Aegidius Junger built another St. James Cathedral in Vancouver. This church was finished in 1885. It served as the main cathedral for 18 years and is still a Catholic church today.
However, Bishop Edward John O'Dea saw that Vancouver was becoming less important. Seattle was growing very fast. So, in 1903, Bishop O'Dea moved the main church office to Seattle. He immediately started planning for a new, larger cathedral.
Bishop O'Dea bought the land for the current cathedral in 1903. Planning started in 1904, and building began in early 1905. On November 12, 1905, the first stone of the cathedral was laid. More than 5,000 people came to watch. This was the biggest religious gathering in Seattle at that time.
While the cathedral was being built, a small temporary church called St. Edward's Chapel was used. It was on the same block as the new cathedral. On September 11, 1907, the church area was officially renamed the Diocese of Seattle. The new St. James Cathedral was opened on December 22, 1907.
Changes and Renovations Over Time
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On February 2, 1916, the cathedral's 60-foot dome collapsed. It fell because of heavy snow. The dome was never rebuilt. When the cathedral reopened in March 1917, the inside looked very different. Another big renovation happened in 1950. This marked 100 years since the diocese was created. In 1984, the Seattle City Council named the cathedral, its rectory, and the grounds as a city landmark.
The most recent major renovation was in 1994. This project aimed to update the church based on changes from the Second Vatican Council. For example, the altar was moved. It used to be at the east end of the cathedral. Now it is in the center of the building. An oculus (a round opening) and a skylight were added above the new altar. This is where the dome used to be.
As part of the 1994 renovation, special items belonging to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini were placed under the altar. Saint Cabrini had prayed at the cathedral when she worked in Seattle from 1903 to 1916.
Today, the cathedral helps many people in need. It has programs for the poor, homeless, and others. These include the Cathedral Kitchen, Homeless Ministry, and St. James Immigrant Assistance. These programs are run from Cathedral Hall and the Pastoral Outreach Center. This center used to be a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
Exploring the Exterior of St. James Cathedral
St. James Cathedral has beautiful artwork on its outside. This includes many stained glass windows. Charles Connick created these windows. They were put in between 1917 and 1920 after the dome collapsed. In 1994, three new windows were added. These were made by Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen, a famous German stained-glass artist.
Bronze Doors and Tympanum
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In 1999, special bronze doors were added. These were made by German sculptor Ulrich Henn. The central bronze doors show humanity's journey to a heavenly city. Scenes from the Old Testament start on the bottom left. They show the journey of God's people. This includes leaving Eden, Noah's sacrifice, and Moses leading people through the Red Sea.
The right side of the doors shows Jesus' journey. It starts from the bottom with his baptism. Then it shows him healing people, teaching, and entering Jerusalem. It also shows his betrayal and carrying the cross.
Above the door, in the tympanum (the space above the doorway), is a victorious Lamb of God. This shows the journey ending in the heavenly city. Rivers flow from the city, and trees grow on the banks. These trees have fruit for healing. An angel points the way to this new paradise. A bronze tabernacle (a special box for sacred items) by the same artist was added in 2003. Ulrich Henn's only other works in the United States are the bronze gates at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
West Façade Details
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Above the west door of the cathedral is a black and gold window from 1950. It shows Christ reaching out his hands to bless. The words on the window say: “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15). This window also celebrates the Pacific Northwest. It shows industries from 1950 like fishing, shipping, and logging. It even includes a drawing of Mount Rainier. Vines with grapes connect these local images to Christ's words.
Above this window, a statue of Saint James the Greater stands. He is the patron saint of the cathedral. To the left is a statue of Saint John Vianney (died 1859). He is the patron saint of parish priests. To the right is a statue of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (died 1917). She was the first American citizen to become a saint. She prayed in St. James Cathedral when she visited Seattle to help Italian immigrants. All three statues on the front of the building were added during the 1950 renovation.
Inside St. James Cathedral
When you enter the west vestibule (entrance area), the floor has a mosaic. It says, "DOMUS DEI PORTA COELI," which means “House of God, Gate of Heaven” (Genesis 28:17). White marble tablets on the walls honor people and groups who helped with the 1994 renovation. A bronze image of Saint Frances Cabrini reminds visitors that she became a U.S. citizen in Seattle. Other tablets list the bishops of Seattle and the cathedral's pastors.
The Baptistery and Pulpit
The baptistery and font are right inside the west doors. The font has the Chi Rho (XP) symbol, an old Greek sign for Christ. Babies are baptized here all year. Older children and adults are baptized in a pool at Easter. Words around the baptistery say: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of God who called you out of darkness into marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). The pool's shape is like a four-leaf clover, similar to the cathedral's own shape. Along the north wall is a shrine honoring Saint John XXIII. He was the Pope who started the Second Vatican Council. St. James is the only cathedral in the U.S. with a shrine to this saint. It was created by Seattle artist John Sisko in 2012.
From the Ambo, or pulpit, the Bible readings are shared and sermons are given. Randall Rosenthal, a Jewish sculptor, created the carving on the pulpit. It shows words from the prophet Isaiah about God's word being like rain that makes the earth fruitful. The carving uses images from the Pacific Northwest, like clouds, rain, and plants.
Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary was designed by a church member, Susan Jones. It is meant to feel warm and comforting. Following old traditions, the stars on the ceiling show how the sky looked over Seattle on December 22. This was the day the cathedral was dedicated. The statue of Mary and Jesus is based on a 15th-century statue from a German monastery.
Organs and Stained Glass
The cathedral has several organs. The original organ, built in 1907, is in the west gallery. In 1926, a second organ was added in the east end. In 2000, this second organ was replaced with the Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Millennium Organ.
The stained-glass windows in the East Apse (the curved area at the end of the church) were made by Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen. They include some of Charles Connick's 1918 stained glass. Stockhausen's windows show six round pictures illustrating acts of kindness from Matthew 25. They show these acts through scenes from Jesus' life. The artist wanted people to think, "Where are these things happening today?"
From top to bottom, the left panel shows:
- Jesus at Emmaus, blessing bread: “I was hungry…”
- Jesus crucified, with a soldier giving him a sponge: “I was thirsty…”
- Women greeting Jesus on the way to the Cross: “I was a stranger…”
The right panel shows:
- Jesus dressed in a purple cloak: “I was naked…”
- Jesus with a crown of thorns: “I was sick…”
- Jesus being arrested: “I was a prisoner…”
The central window tells the story of baptism. At the top, Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan River. In the middle, Moses leads the people of Israel through the Red Sea. This is a sign of baptism. At the bottom, Noah floats in the floodwaters. He reaches for a dove with an olive branch, a sign of new life. Below that is a golden seed growing in water, breaking open to new life. A message on the seed connects all the windows: “As often as you did it to one of these, the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it to me.”(Matthew 25:40)
The Cathedral Chapel
The cathedral chapel has a special altarpiece (a painting behind the altar) by Italian artist Neri di Bicci. It was made in 1456.
This painting shows the Madonna and Child (Mary and baby Jesus) surrounded by six saints. These saints include Saint Luke, the doctor; Saint Bartholomew; Saint Lawrence, the Deacon; Saint John the Baptist; Saint Martin; and Saint Sebastian. This type of painting, where saints from different times are shown together with Mary and Jesus, is called a sacra conversazione (holy conversation). The painting was carefully cleaned and repaired in 2005 at the Seattle Art Museum. It was the main piece in an exhibit about Renaissance art. We don't know exactly how this painting came to St. James Cathedral. It used to hang in the cathedral's baptistery before moving to the chapel in 1950.
Past Rectors of St. James Cathedral
- 1906–1910 – Monsignor Daniel A. Hanly
- 1910–1919 – Monsignor William J. Noonan
- 1919–1935 – Monsignor James G. Stafford
- 1935–1943 – Father William Henry O'Neill
- 1943–1954 – Father John Gallagher
- 1955–1973 – Bishop Thomas E. Gill
- 1973–1988 – Father William E. Gallagher
- 1988–present – Very Rev. Michael G. Ryan
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santiago (Seattle) para niños
