Washington National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral. Officially the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, it is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church (United States) located in Washington, D.C.. The structure serves as both the seat of the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and a national house of prayer. Constructed over 83 years in the 20th century, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world and a prominent example of Gothic Revival architecture in North America.

History

The impetus for a great national cathedral began with Pierre Charles L'Enfant's 1791 plan for the Federal City, which included a site for a "great church for national purposes." The Congress granted a charter to the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation in 1893, and the Senate confirmed the site on Mount Saint Alban in 1898. Construction began in 1907 with a foundation stone laid by President Theodore Roosevelt. The building process spanned the administrations of multiple presidents, including Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was completed in 1990 with the placement of the final finial in the presence of President George H. W. Bush. The cathedral was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Architecture

Designed in the 14th-century English Gothic style, the cathedral's architecture was principally guided by the designs of George Frederick Bodley and, after his death, by Henry Vaughan. The final chief architect was Philip Hubert Frohman of the firm Frohman, Robb and Little. Key features include the central crossing tower and the west front with its ornate rose window. The interior houses over 200 stained glass windows, including the Space Window containing a fragment of moon rock from Apollo 11. Notable artistic elements are the grotesques and flying buttresses, while the Gloucester-style choir and the Jerusalem Altar are significant liturgical spaces.

Role and functions

As the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the cathedral is the church of its diocesan bishop. It functions as a national house of prayer, hosting major state funerals, memorial services, and interfaith gatherings. Notable services have included the funerals of Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan, as well as the September 11 National Memorial Service. It regularly holds services for Armed Forces Day and hosts presidential inaugural prayers, such as for Barack Obama. The cathedral is also a cultural venue, hosting concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra and maintaining a renowned carillon and pipe organ.

Construction and funding

Construction lasted from 1907 to 1990, delayed by both World War I and World War II, as well as funding challenges. Built primarily from Indiana limestone, the project was funded entirely through private donations from individuals and foundations, receiving no government funding. Significant contributions came from organizations like the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and prominent figures such as Andrew Carnegie. The final phases, including the west towers, were completed with a major fundraising campaign in the 1980s. The 2011 earthquake caused extensive damage, leading to a multi-year, multi-million dollar restoration project funded by private donations and grants from entities like the Save America's Treasures program.

Significant events

The cathedral has been the site of numerous historic national events. It hosted the state funeral for Woodrow Wilson, the only president interred in Washington, D.C.. Other notable memorials include those for Helen Keller, whose ashes are in the cathedral, and Rosa Parks. It was the location for the funeral of Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and a national prayer service following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. More recently, it held the funeral for Senator John McCain and a memorial for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it served as a mass vaccination center in partnership with the District of Columbia government.