Begun in 1925, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is one of the few examples of true Gothic architecture in the U.S. Designed by well known architect
Harold Clarence Whitehouse, of the firm of Whitehouse & Price, of Spokane, this cathedral is unique in that it was the only major cathedral to have been completed within the lifetime of the founding bishop. That bishop was The Right Reverend Edward Makin Cross, whose vision was the catalyst for the construction of St. John the Evangelist. Architecturally, it is classical Gothic with a strong French influence. Though dedication of the first section of the cathedral took place on October 20, 1929, it was not totally completed until 1961.
Built entirely of stone, using no wood or steel, the cathedral has many large stained glass windows, a large pipe organ,
Opus 1343, built in 1961 by Aeolian-Skinner of Boston, and a 49 bell carillon in the bell tower. The carillon is played every Sunday at 10:15 AM, as well as the Fourth of July, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and other special occasions. Follow the link in the Stained Glass description below for a more in depth discussion of the windows.
Dimensions of the Cathedral
Total length........................257 feet, 9 inches
Full interior width.................50 feet, 2 inches
Width across tansepts......................125 feet
Interior height of crossing...................92 feet
Height of nave...................................80 feet
Height of tower..................167 feet, 9 inches
Full seating capacity.....about 1,000 persons
The two headings in the descriptions below are links to an in depth discussion of the subject.
Architecture
Together with architect Harold C. Whitehouse, the Bishop began to plan for a gothic cathedral atop the hill. The dream became reality within the lifetime of Bishop Cross, the only time known that a major cathedral has been completed within the lifetime of the founding bishop. The Cathedral has classical Gothic architecture with a strong French influence. It is solid masonry; no structural wood or steel were used. The dedication of the first section of the church was on October 20, 1929, but construction lagged during the Great Depression and World War II. Starting again in 1948, gradually more sections were added. By 1961, the building assumed its present form.
Stained Glass
The stained glass windows in the Cathedral were created by Charles J. Connick and Associates of Boston and Willet Stained Glass Studio of Philadelphia. Each series of windows illustrates a story. The chancel windows tell of significant events in the life of Jesus. The large nave windows depict major figures of the Old and New Testaments. The lower nave windows follow the history of the Christian church up to the time of local Inland Northwest events.
From St. John the Evangelist Cathedral