St. Joseph's Cathedral - Table of Contents
St. Joseph's Cathedral - Table of Contents
Nave - St. Joseph's Cathedral
AKA St. Joseph's RC Old Cathedral
TEXT Beneath Illustrations
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The front metal pipes display authentic period colors taken from the rose window. All of the original stenciling and gold leaf has been completely restored. |
The unique patterns on the wooden pipes are found only on Hook and Hastings instruments. |
Gothic Revival arcaded columns separate the center aisle from the side aisles |
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Gothic Revival arcaded columns separate the nave from the side aisles |
South transept (note the sanctuary at far left and nave at far right) |
Side aisle (at right) separated from the nave by Gothic Revival arcaded columns |
Definition of nave: the central aisle; the part of a church located between the chief entrance and the chancel/sanctuary, and separated from the side aisles by piers or columns
Marking the church's Golden jubilee in 1905, donors purchased beautiful stained-glass windows to replace those of plain glass, selecting subjects of their own choosing for each window's theme.
At the same time, the original wooden floors of the cathedral, which were beginning to deteriorate, were replaced with more durable and beautiful polished marble and tile.
Centennial Organ
The choir loft houses the historic Centennial Organ, built by L. & G. G. Hook and Hastings in 1876 for the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, where it won first prize as the finest example of American organ-building. Bishop Ryan purchased the instrument at the close of the exhibition, and the organ was installed in the cathedral in 1877. Other than its electrification in 1925, the organ remained relatively unchanged until 1998, when the Andover Organ Company in Methuen, Massachusetts, began a comprehensive three-year restoration and expansion project. All the original components were restored to "like-new" condition, while the organ's historic tonal palette was retained. With 72 independent stops creating 92 ranks from more than 5,300 pipes, the organ is now equipped to produce music for the renewed liturgical rites.
The organ case, built of solid American Black Walnut, glows once again with its original beauty. The front metal pipes display authentic period colors taken from the rose window. All of the original stenciling and gold leaf has been completely restored. The unique patterns on the wooden pipes are found only on Hook and Hastings instruments. The new four-manual console, which controls all six divisions of the organ, is an authentic replication of 1870s American design. Organ demonstrations and lectures are available.
