St. James Cathedral in Seattle

St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., is the seat of the archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. It is located between Marion and Columbia Streets on 9th Avenue on First Hill.

The Diocese of Nisqually was established in Vancouver, Washington, on May 31, 1850 by Pope Pius IX. The See was moved to Seattle in 1903, and the Diocese of Nesqually was renamed the Diocese of Seattle on September 11, 1907 at the request of Bishop Edward J. O'Dea. The diocese was elevated to an archdiocese on June 23, 1951. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Catholic Hierarchy | date= | publisher=David M. Cheney| url =http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dseat.html| work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-03-05 | language = ]

The current cathedral grounds were purchased in 1903; planning began in 1904, and construction began in early 1905. The cornerstone was laid November 12, 1905, with more than 5,000 people in attendance. It was said to be the largest religious gathering in Seattle up to that time. While the cathedral was under construction, a small temporary structure, St. Edward's Chapel, served as the pro-cathedral for Bishop O'Dea. It was designed by Seattle architect James Stephen, and was located on the cathedral block, at the corner of Terry Avenue and Columbia Street. The cathedral was dedicated on December 22, 1907.

On February 2, 1916, the 40-foot dome which crowned the cathedral collapsed under the weight of a heavy snowfall. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Snow Collapses Church Dome | date= | publisher=HistoryLink Seattle | url =http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=2872| work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-03-05 | language = ] The dome was never rebuilt, and when the cathedral reopened on March 18, 1917, the interior had changed dramatically. Another major renovation took place in 1950, marking the centennial of the diocese. In 1994, the cathedral underwent the most recent major restoration and renovation. The cathedral is a designated city landmark. [ [https://www.cityofseattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/s.htm Landmarks Alphabetical Listing for S] , Individual Landmarks, Department of Neighborhoods, City of Seattle. Accessed 28 December 2007.]

The cathedral campus today includes buildings for cathedral outreach service. Outreach ministries such as Health and Healing, Homeless Ministry & Nightwatch, St. Vincent de Paul, Environmental Justice and St. James ESL, the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program operate from the Pastoral Outreach Center, once the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Names. The rectory and cathedral hall buildings are located on the campus.

Art & Music of St. James Cathedral

Major artwork at St. James Cathedral include an extensive collection of stained glass by Charles Connick, installed in 1917-1920, during the rebuilding of the cathedral following the collapse of the dome. In 1994, three new windows were added, the work of Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen, a noted German stained-glass artist, who has served on the faculty of the Pilchuck School. In 1999, ceremonial bronze doors were added, the work of German sculptor Ulrich Henn. A bronze tabernacle by the same artist was installed in 2003. Henn's only other works in the United States are the bronze gates at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. St. James Cathedral is also home to an altarpiece by Florentine artist Neri di Bicci, dating to 1456. It represents the Madonna and Child surrounded by six saints.

St. James Cathedral is noted for its two major organs. The 1907 west gallery organ was built by the Boston firm of Hutchings-Votey (Opus 1623). It is complemented by the east apse organ, entitled the Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Millennium Organ, built by Manuel Rosales Organ Builders of Los Angeles, California (Opus 30), completed in 2000.

Pastors 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

Pictures

* [http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/St.James.Cathedral2.jpeg Historic postcard picture]
* [http://infopuq.uquebec.ca/~uss1010/orgues/etatsunis/seattlesjc.jpgCurrent interior facing east]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/clack/278575149/ Interior and exterior photos]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/clack/278575146/ Interior and exterior photos]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/clack/278575143/ Interior and exterior photos]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/clack/278575151/ Interior and exterior photos]

External links

*http://www.stjames-cathedral.org/

References