5th Avenue between East 50th and 51st
Streets
(212) 753-2261
Few buildings in the world
are as spellbinding as New York’s own St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Located at 5th Avenue between East 50th and
51st Streets in Midtown Manhattan, the house of worship’s
intensely Gothic architecture immediately stands out against the
skyscrapers that surround it. If you have yet to experience its
awe-inspiring design, wait no longer.
With a seating capacity of
2,400, St. Patrick’s is the largest Catholic cathedral in the
United States. Its foundations were set in 1859 but construction,
which was based on the architectural design of James Renwick, was
not completed until 1878. It was dedicated a year later, and
remains in use through the present day. Named for the patron saint
of the Irish, it serves as the headquarters of the New York
Archdiocese and houses several Sunday worship services, as well as
other activities during the week.
The first thing you will
notice upon entering is the sheer size of the place; it’s
enormous. The ceilings reach 330 feet at their highest points, a
pair of spires, and the rose window at the entrance measures
twenty-six inches in diameter. The organ used during services
houses over 7,000 pipes, and there are eighteen altars and
shrines. As you sit in the pews, giant statues of saints gaze at
you from all sides, which is both comforting and intimidating. The
marble-made Lady Chapel, which is set off of the main altar, is a
quiet place to reflect and pay respects.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is
one of the architectural wonders of the city, if not the country.
For more information, call (212) 753-2261. Sunday worship services
are held at 7, 8, 9, 10:15, 12, 1, 4, and 5:30, with various
additional programs held throughout the week. Guided tours are
available by appointment.
