St. John Gualbert Cathedral (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. John Gualbert Cathedral |
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| 40°19′31″N 78°54′55″W / 40.32526°N 78.91530°W | |
| Location | 117 Clinton St. Johnstown, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Co-cathedral/Parish |
| Founded | 1835 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Louis and M. J. Beezer Comes, Perry, and McMullen |
| Style | Italianate Romanesque Revival |
| Completed | 1895 |
| Construction cost | $75,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 124 feet (38 m) |
| Width | 66 feet (20 m) |
| Number of spires | Two |
| Spire height | 180 feet (55 m) |
| Materials | Steel, brick, terra cotta |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Altoona-Johnstown |
St. John Gualbert Cathedral is a very important church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It serves as a co-cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown. This means it shares the main church duties with another cathedral. The building is also part of the Downtown Johnstown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This shows its historical importance.
Contents
Building the Cathedral: A Look at its Design
How the Church Was Built
The architects who designed St. John Gualbert Church were Louis and M. J. Beezer. They were from Altoona, Pennsylvania. A magazine called Bricklayers once said that the church's design was very interesting. They thought it was unique and unlike any other building of its kind.
One special thing about the church is its strong steel frame. A huge amount of steel, about 590,000 pounds (267,619 kg), was used. This included steel for the foundation, walls, and roof. Because so much steel was used, the cross was put on top of the tower even before the first stone was laid! The roof was also finished before the foundation walls were fully built. Construction started on August 7, 1895, and cost $75,000. The cornerstone was officially placed on October 13, 1895.
Outside the Cathedral
The cathedral building is 66 feet (20 m) wide on Clinton Street and 124 feet (38 m) long on Locust Street. The main part of the church is 47 feet (14 m) tall.
The tall tower on the right side is 180 feet (55 m) high. It was built in an Italianate style, which means it looks like buildings from Italy. This tower was inspired by St Mark's Campanile in Venice, Italy. Interestingly, the Johnstown tower is almost ten years older than the rebuilt Venice tower.
The smaller tower on the left is 104 feet (32 m) tall. It holds a large 3,200-pound (1,451 kg) bell. This bell is very old and used to be in an older church in Johnstown. It even survived a fall during the terrible Johnstown Flood in 1889! The bell was remade in 1890.
The church roof was first made of Spanish tile. It was changed to slate in 1915. In 1994, new shingles were put on because the slate was getting old and heavy. Later, four large bronze doors were added to the church entrance in 1965. These doors were made in Italy. They show four important moments from the life of St. John Gualbert, who is the church's patron saint.
Inside the Cathedral
Inside the cathedral, you can see round arch windows. There are also pilasters, which are like flat columns, with fancy Corinthian tops. The ceiling is curved and has sunken panels, which is called a coved and coffered ceiling. The bishop's special chair, called a cathedra, is in the center of the back wall.
The church has a pipe organ from 1897. It was a gift from Andrew Carnegie, thanks to Charles Schwab. The organ has been updated several times. It was rebuilt in the 1950s and now has 1,929 pipes! The choir area also has a studio for a program called Proclaim!.
Some of the original parts of the church, like the main altar and statues, were moved. They are now in the crypt (an underground room) of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. There is also a special chapel called the Shrine of Saint Anne. It is 32 by 48 feet (9.8 by 14.6 m) and was built in 1895.
Church History
On November 11, 1957, the Diocese of Altoona changed its name to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. This change made St. John Gualbert the co-cathedral for the area.
Leaders of the Cathedral Parish
Since it was founded in 1891, the cathedral parish of Saint John Gualbert has had eight main leaders, called rectors:
- Msgr John Boyle, V.G. (1891–1921)
- Msgr John N. Codori, V.G., LL.D. (1921–1947)
- Edward B. Daly (1947–1968)
- Msgr Edwards J. Davis (1968–1987)
- Msgr Philip P. Saylor (1987–1993)
- Msgr George B. Flinn, V.G. (1993–2009)
- Very Rev. James F. Crookston (2009–2021)
- Very Rev. Matthew Baum (2021–Present)
See also
