Misplaced Pages

#21978

38-524: The cathedral was built as a replacement for the previous cathedral, the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France , located along the Mississippi River . Although workers began clearing ground for the building on May 1, 1907, dedication of the cathedral and its first Mass did not take place until October 18, 1914, when the superstructure was complete. Consecration of the church took place more than

76-525: A museum dedicated to the mosaics in the church as well as to some of the other artifacts found within the cathedral. Also in the church undercroft is a chapel dedicated to the souls of former leaders of the Archdiocese. Currently, Cardinals John J. Glennon , Joseph Ritter , and John Carberry , as well as Archbishop John L. May , are buried in the cathedral's crypt . In 1999, a 14-foot high, welded stainless steel sculpture by Wiktor Szostalo

114-756: A bell given to the church by the governor of the territory of Louisiana during the early 19th century. Bishop Joseph Rosati , who ordered the construction of the church, is interred in a vault underneath the sanctuary. Wiktor Szostalo Wiktor Szostalo (born 22 August 1952) is a Polish sculptor with studios in both Poland and the United States. He works in a variety of media, most notably welded stainless steel , wood, and bronze. Born 22 August 1952 in Pasvalys , Lithuanian SSR , ( Lithuania ), in 1958 he moved with his parents and younger brother Józef to Kołobrzeg , Poland . From 1972-1978 he studied at

152-484: A decade later on June 29, 1926. The church is known for its large mosaic installation (which is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere), and for its burial crypts. Planning for the cathedral began under the authority of Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick in the 1870s and 1880s, and a fund was created for the construction of the building by Archbishop John Joseph Kain . A formal organization promoting

190-508: A more substantial structure, no priest permanently resided in the village of St. Louis until 1811. These buildings began to be replaced in 1818 with a brick structure, on the orders of the Bishop Louis William Valentine Dubourg . The brick structure was designed by Gabriel Paul. During Dubourg's tenure as bishop, many artifacts, paintings, and an organ were donated to the church. While the brick church

228-423: A restoration project. They added more ranks of pipes, which brought the organ to 96 ranks of pipes. The company also added some digital stops to the organ. A new four-manual organ console replaced the old Kilgen console behind the sanctuary, and the second gallery console was refurbished. Wicks also updated the organ's electronics. In the winter of 2002 the gallery organ was expanded, and a new dome division of pipes

266-519: A territorial parish church. It ranks 177th of 196 churches in number of Catholics per church in the Archdiocese of St. Louis . However, because of its historical significance (and its location along the Mississippi River near the iconic Arch), the basilica remains a popular church for marriage ceremonies in the archdiocese (ranking second of 196 churches) and a popular tourist destination. When Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau established

304-558: A two-story brick building adjacent to the new church in 1818. Construction of the brick church was not complete until 1821. In 1826, population growth prompted the establishment of the Diocese of St. Louis . The first bishop of the St. Louis diocese, Joseph Rosati , began construction of a new cathedral, now the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, to mark this growth. The cornerstone of

342-482: Is located near the historic riverfront of St. Louis. It is surrounded by Gateway Arch National Park . However, the church is not part of the park. Because of the historical significance of the church, it was left intact while all neighboring buildings were demolished to make way for the Gateway Arch and related park. Rev. Nicholas Smith serves as Rector. The basilica serves as a personal parish church rather than

380-610: Is of granite and is inscribed with quotations from the New Testament, Pope John Paul II, and Martin Luther King Jr. The sculpture emphasizes a theme of harmony, peace, and racial justice, according to Auxiliary Bishop Edward Braxton , who suggested the project to Archbishop Justin Rigali . The statue was vandalized and destroyed by a 35 year old man, who tampered with construction equipment being used for renovations on

418-810: Is to " ...remind us that we humans are still very much a part of our natural surroundings ". Installations of the project are sponsored by local environmental or arts related organizations and have occurred in cities across Europe, in England, and in the United States. An installation was sponsored by Klub Gaja in Wilkowice, Poland to celebrate International Tree Day 2006 and included an installation in Park Ujazdowski at Poland's Center for Contemporary Art. Past installations have taken place at Washington University in St. Louis , Forest Park in St. Louis , at

SECTION 10

#1732765563022

456-606: The Crucifixion by Diego Velázquez installed in the church in the latter half of the twentieth century. Engraved in gold over the entrance to the church are the words In honorem s. Ludovici. Deo uni et trino dicatum. A. MDCCCXXXIV , which translates as "In honor of St. Louis. Dedicated to the one and triune God. A.D. 1834". Hebrew letters, intended to spell out the Tetragrammaton , are also inscribed in Hebrew above

494-929: The Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow , graduating with an MFA in painting and sculpture. Szostalo was one of the founders of the Solidarity movement in Kolobrzeg and in March 1981 was elected the first Chairman of the Regional Board of "Solidarity" in Koszalin , which he represented in the 38-person National Committee headed by Lech Wałęsa . He was jailed for five months after the communist regime's crackdown on "Solidarity" in December 1981. He left Poland in 1982 for

532-555: The Cathedral of Saint Louis , and colloquially the Old Cathedral , is a Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri . It was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River and until 1844 the only parish church in St. Louis. It is one of two Catholic basilicas in St. Louis (with the current cathedral ) and both are named for King Louis IX of France (the namesake of the city). The current structure (built 1831–1834)

570-903: The Hebden Bridge Arts Festival in England, and in Stadtpark in Vienna , Austria . In March 2007 the Tree Hugger Project was named first in a national online arts competition organized by the New York City-based organization Art For Progress , and has been invited to the 2007 Burning Man festival, which also awarded the Project a grant for the installation. As of 2006 , further installations were planned for Europos Parkas in Lithuania and

608-643: The " Angel of Harmony " at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis , the " Crucifix " at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Carmel , Indiana . [1] , and the " Pieta " at Christ Our King Church in Charleston , SC . [2] Other notable pieces include the " Millennium Memorial " commissioned by the city business council of Kołobrzeg , Poland, " At Long Last I got to Like Myself the Way I Am ", commissioned by

646-667: The Novol Corporation, Poznań , PL, and " Team Spirit ", selected by the NCAA for their headquarters in Indianapolis , IN . Szostalo's Tree Hugger Project , begun in 2005, is an ongoing work of environmental art conceived along with the artist Agnieszka Gradzik. With the help of participants on site, who gather branches, twigs, vines and flowers, the artists fashion together these natural materials into groups of figures literally "hugging" trees. The artist's stated intention

684-572: The US, where he was granted political asylum. In 1990, he became a US citizen. He currently lives and works in both St. Louis, MO and Kołobrzeg , Poland Szostalo is widely recognized for his large scale public sculpture commissions. Departing from the more traditional method of bronze casting, these pieces are executed directly in welded stainless steel. They often incorporate additional elements such as cast crystal glass or carved wood. Many of these works were commissioned by Catholic churches including

722-401: The building was complete for a dedication ceremony, yet full consecration did not take place until June 29, 1926. Even after consecration, completion of the cathedral's mosaics was not accomplished until 1988. On December 20, 1943, a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Requiem was offered for Butch O'Hare , US Navy fighter pilot and Medal of Honor winner. The grounds of the cathedral also contain

760-426: The cathedral on September 17, 2024. The man was arrested and being held without bond for first degree tampering, first degree property damage, unlawful use of a weapon, as he was suspected of firing into an unoccupied vehicle, and resisting arrest. The cathedral has a large organ that was originally built by Geo. Kilgen and Son, Inc., in 1915. Originally, the organ had two four-manual (keyboard) organ consoles , one in

798-526: The church is often used for weddings, only ranking behind St. Francis Xavier College Church at Saint Louis University in the number of Catholic marriages in the archdiocese. Built in Greek Revival style, the church is noted for its marble altars, a painting of Saint Louis venerating the Crown of Thorns given by Louis XVIII , King of France and Navarre , and an accurate copy of the painting of

SECTION 20

#1732765563022

836-480: The church was laid by Rosati during a ceremony on August 1, 1831. The church was designed and built by the architectural firm of Laveille and Morton, among the first architectural firms west of the Mississippi River north of New Orleans . Construction was complete by late 1834. On Sunday, October 26, 1834, the cathedral was consecrated at a ceremony featuring the local militia and parishioners. After

874-497: The church was renovated by the prominent St. Louis architectural firm Murphy and Mackey. In 2015, the Basilica underwent a restoration, including: The current parish serves the needs of local parishioners, described as "few in number but strong in loyalty", along with working people and tourists. However, because of its location along the Mississippi River and near the Gateway Arch (which provide backdrops for wedding photos)

912-561: The city of St. Louis , they dedicated a plot of land west of Laclède's home for the purposes of the Catholic Church. The earliest Catholic records suggest that a tent was used by an itinerant priest in 1766, but by 1770 a small log house was built on the site. This building, consecrated by the Reverend Pierre Gibault, an itinerant priest, on June 24, 1770, was expanded in 1776 to include a log church. In spite of

950-411: The current church, in the city's Central West End neighborhood. This larger church, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis , continues to serve as the seat of the archbishop of St. Louis . To recognize the original cathedral's significance, on January 27, 1961, Pope John XXIII designated it a basilica , giving it the present name, the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France . Shortly after, in 1963,

988-467: The distinctive circular Chancery Building, c.  1965 , designed by the Peruvian-American modernist architect Wenceslaus Sarmiento . In 1912, installation of mosaics in the interior began. Completed in 1988, the mosaics collectively contain 41.5 million glass tesserae pieces in more than 7,000 colors. Covering 83,000 square feet (7,700 m), it is the largest mosaic collection in

1026-614: The elevation of the Diocese of St. Louis to archdiocese status in 1847, the cathedral became home to an early chapter of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul , a Catholic charity for the indigent. Both Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick and St. Louis Mayor Bryan Mullanphy were counted among the founders of the chapter, initially dedicated to assisting immigrants at a time of waves of immigration from Ireland and Germany, but later expanding to all St. Louis residents. The tradition of care for

1064-552: The engraving on the main entrance. An urban legend of unknown origin claims that "the letter Heth was substituted for the letter He , so the inscription merely reads yachuch , which has no meaning in Hebrew"; however, the letters in the inscription appear to indeed be He . The church basement has a number of artifacts associated with the history of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis , including

1102-496: The gallery with the organ, and another console behind the sanctuary. In 1946, Kilgen put a new organ into the cathedral. The 1946 organ had 77 ranks of pipes, 14 of which came from the older organ. In 1948, an Echo Organ from Carnegie Hall, New York City was installed in the cathedral. In 1984, the M. P. Moller organ company refurbished the organ. In 1997 the Wicks Organ Company of nearby Highland, Illinois , began

1140-410: The initiative for construction was only begun after the elevation of Archbishop John J. Glennon . The architecture firm of Barnett, Haynes & Barnett was selected, and Thomas P. Barnett led the design team for the project. A ceremony was conducted on May 1, 1907, for the groundbreaking of the site, and a formal laying of the building's cornerstone took place on October 18, 1908. By 1914, enough of

1178-478: The mosaic for nearly their entire working lives, and Emil Frei, Inc. , of St. Louis. The narthex of the church depicts the life of King Louis IX of France , namesake of the city and church, the rear dome includes mosaics of significant archdiocesan events, while the main dome by Jan Henryk de Rosen depicts Biblical scenes from both the Old Testament and New Testament . The church basement contains

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis) - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-425: The new cathedral was created on April 28, 1871, and among the members of the St. Louis Cathedral Building Association were Archbishop Kenrick, Bishop Patrick John Ryan , and a variety of local businessmen. Initial site selection indicated that the new cathedral would be built on a city block bounded by 22nd and 23rd streets, and by Pine and Chestnut streets, at a location east of the actual construction site. However,

1254-418: The organ from either the gallery console or the moveable sanctuary console. The original Kilgen console was moved into the basement museum, and can be viewed by visitors. The gallery organ is featured on many of Saint Louis's cultural tours. Basilica of St. Louis, King of France The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France ( French : Cathédrale Saint-Louis-Roi-de-France de Saint-Louis ), formerly

1292-498: The poor and needy was carried on in the early 20th century after the appointment of the Reverend John Tannrath to head the church on September 5, 1915. Tannrath not only refurbished the rectory and church, but also reestablished a parish school for local immigrant children. He arranged care for disabled children and adults. Again due to the growth of the city, a larger church was consecrated in 1914 farther west of

1330-400: The world outside Russia. While the mosaics in the side chapels and sanctuary walls were designed and installed by Tiffany Studios , the mosaics in the main cathedral areas were designed by August Oetken. Installation of the mosaics was completed by dozens of artisans, including Hildreth Meiere , Ravenna Mosaic, Inc., and especially the father and son team, Paul and Arno Heuduck, who worked on

1368-471: Was added to the organ. The final step in the project, the replacement of the original gallery console (and a smaller, two-manual console that took its place) with a five-manual console was completed in 2010. The Ragen Organ Console, named for its donor, Professor Brian Abel Ragen, was taken from St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City and completely restored. It is now possible to control every part of

1406-417: Was installed on the side lawn of the church. The sculpture was a gift from Adelaide Schlafly in memory of her late husband, Daniel Schlafly, a Catholic layman who was dedicated to the cause of racial justice and peace. It features a winged angel with African-American features, standing behind three children with Hispanic, Asian and European features, playing a song of peace on their instruments. The statue's base

1444-412: Was under construction, a cemetery was established near the building, in which many of the founders of St. Louis were interred. Most of the bodies were moved and reinterred during the 1840s and 1850s to Bellefontaine Cemetery , after the construction of the current church. Additionally, Dubourg was influential in the establishment of St. Louis Academy (which later developed as Saint Louis University ) in

#21978