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St. Patrick's was constructed in 1858, but wasn't completed until 1879 (21 years later). Before the cathedral was built, there were only 200 Catholics and one priest in New York. The archbishop at that time was John Hughes. James Renwick was the architect of the cathedral. Hughes and Renwick began discussing the construction of St. Patrick's in 1853. By March 5,1859, the cathedral building was set and the contract was written. They were granted $2500 a year for the next eight years. Although it was estimated that the building would take 8 years, the work began in 1859, the project took much longer because of the civil war. The final cost of the cathedral was $1.9 million.
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Renwick was born into a wealthy and well-educated family. His mother, Margaret Brevoort, was from a wealthy and socially prominent New York family. Renwick studied engineering at Columbia and graduated in 1836 at the age of eighteen. Renwick's masterpiece and most popular building was Saint Patrick's Cathedral on the corner of New York's Fifth Avenue and 51st street. |
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James Renwick 1818-1895 |
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1.The cathedral is the largest gothic-style cathedral in the U.S. 2.It has been recognized throughout its history as a pre-eminent center of Catholic life in this country. 3.The cathdral seats about 2,200 people. 4.The cathedral's spires rise to 200 ft. tall. 5.It has three organs. 6.Each year over 3 million people visit the cathedral. 7.The St. Michael and St. Louis altar was made and designed by Tiffany and Company.
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Today a liturgical altar has been placed in the sanctuary and the Baptistry has been relocated. St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of New York, Edward Cardinal Egan.
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