St. John's Cathedral (Knoxville, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. John's Cathedral |
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 Location in Tennessee
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| 35°57′43.53″N 83°55′7.34″W / 35.9620917°N 83.9187056°W | |
| Location | 413 W. Cumberland Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| History | |
| Founded | 1826 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | J.W. Yost |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1891 |
| Completed | 1892 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | East Tennessee |
St. John's Cathedral is a beautiful church located in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can find it at 413 Cumberland Avenue. It serves as the main church for the Episcopal community in East Tennessee. This church is a special place for many people.
Contents
History of St. John's Cathedral
Early Beginnings
St. John's Church started in 1826. This was 35 years after Knoxville was founded. In 1829, it was one of the churches that helped create the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. This important meeting happened in Nashville. By 1844, St. John's became the first mission church from Eastern Tennessee. It officially joined the Diocese of Tennessee.
Building the Current Church
The first church building was taken down in 1891. This made space for a bigger and better church. The new building was finished in 1892. J.W. Yost from Columbus, Ohio was the architect. He designed the church in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style often uses heavy stone and rounded arches.
The church is shaped like a Latin cross. It has a slate roof, turrets, and buttresses. You can also see beautiful rose windows. These are large, round windows with detailed designs.
Changes Over Time
A big fire hit the church in 1919. Many of the original stained glass windows were destroyed. But the church was quickly repaired and restored. In 1963, major updates were made. A new space called the undercroft was built under the main floor.
A very important event happened in 1986. St. John's was chosen to be the main church for the new Diocese of East Tennessee. This means it became a "cathedral."
Community Involvement
Members of St. John's have helped start many groups in Knoxville. These include:
- The Episcopal Church of the Ascension (started in 1957)
- Volunteer Mission Center (started in 1978)
- The Episcopal School of Knoxville (started in 1999)
The church also helps Green Magnet School. They provide resources and support to the school.
Recent Renovations
The Great Hall was added to the church in 1984. Other parts of the inside were also updated. An old office building was removed to create an outdoor courtyard. The Cathedral also bought another office building nearby. This building is now used for church offices and meetings.
Between 2018 and 2020, the church had a big restoration project. They fixed problems with water getting inside. They also repaired the inside of the sanctuary. New lighting and sound systems were installed. Restrooms were updated, and a new library was created. Much of this work prepared the church for a new organ. This special organ was given by Steve and Ann Haslam Bailey. It was dedicated to Jim and Natalie Haslam.
The Very Reverend John C. Ross is the current Dean of the Cathedral. The Reverend Canon Thom Rasnick is the Sub-Dean.
The Labyrinth
What is a Labyrinth?
A labyrinth is a special path or maze. It is used for walking meditation and reflection. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path. You cannot get lost in it.
Mary Clark Wright Memorial Labyrinth
The courtyard at St. John's Cathedral has a beautiful labyrinth. It is called the Mary Clark Wright Memorial Labyrinth. Her children had it built in her memory. This labyrinth is a copy of the famous one at Chartres Cathedral in France.
The path is made of terra cotta and light gray stones. It has special designs like lunations, trefoils, and petals. The path is about 12.5 inches wide. The whole labyrinth is 39 feet across. The total length of the path is 750 feet.
The company Labyrinths in Stone built it. The dedication ceremony was in September 2001. The labyrinth was updated in 2006. It is open for anyone in the community to use. You can ask the church offices for more information.
