St Patrick's Cathedral, New York City

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St. Patrick's cathedral in New York City is in the heart of Manhattan on Fifth Avenue. Currently (2013) the entire outside of the cathedral is covered in scaffolding and quite a lot of the interior from the entrance up the nave is as well. It's necessary but it isn't as nice to visit. You can still see the altar and some of the side chapels and the bits behind the altar as well.

The Cathedral was opened in 1879, a project spearheaded by the first Archbishop of New York, John Hughes, and was built thanks to the donations of not just rich patrons but thousands of poorer immigrants contributing whatever they could. When it was built, it was outside the city but over time, of course, the city grew around it. It is a beautiful Cathedral with a double spire and lots of carvings all over it. The Fifth Avenue main entrance is a huge set of bronze doors.

The height of the spires is 330 feet. The cathedral can seat 2400 people. The Rose window is 26 feet in diameter. It is still a working church with services and confessions scheduled. The interior has high vaulted ceilings and a really nice "Baldachin" or canopy over the high altar. The stained glass windows are superb. It's free to enter with donation buckets at the entrance. They do have a gift shop as well. There are free guided tours at 10 a.m. (with donation appreciated) but they are not a daily occurrence. You'd have to check the website for that.

Find the cathedral on Fifth Avenue across from Rockefeller Center and next to Saks Fifth Avenue. There is a ramp on the side of the main entrance off 51st street.

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Of the places I was privileged to see during my first visit to New York City in 1972, St. Patrick's Cathedral stands out as one of the most memorable. The occasion was Easter Sunday Mass for which tickets were required due to demand for seating being greater than existing capacity -- the tickets were thoughtfully obtained by my cousin.

Thanks to a brilliantly sunny day, the interior of the cathedral was rather well lit and the backlighting of the many stained glass windows cast colorful patterns on the cathedral floor. Hung high above the nave of the cathedral were several crimson hats of Cardinals who had once presided over the congregation and New York diocese. With its immense size, grand architecture of stone and wood, stained-glass windows, side altars, sculpture, and ornate pulpit, St. Patrick's was the most awe-inspiring cathedral I had visited up until that point in my life.

Every year over 5.5 million people visit St. Patrick's. Far younger than, but just the same as, many of Europe's great cathedrals, St. Patrick's has seen many additions since it was dedicated on May 25, 1879. For example, the spires were not complete until 1888. However, it was the original donations of $1,000 each from 103 citizens and much smaller amounts from the immigrant poor, as well as numerous fundraising events since then which have kept the cathedral moving forward.

During this more recent visit, it was unfortunate that the ground level exterior view was marred by scaffolding. Still the interior was as inviting as ever!

It is sad to me that the architecture of many Catholic churches built in the 20th century are too modern and sterile--little stained glass, fewer or no side altars, statues, ornate carvings, marble, etc. They are not inspiring in the least. I prefer European Catholic churches because they are, in and of themselves, great works of art -- every inch designed to give glory to God.

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In the midst of swanky 5th Avenue sitting beside some of Manhattan's most expensive stores, is the neo-gothic St Patrick's Cathedral. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop of New York, and at the same time, a parish church.

Even if you're non-Catholic, the cathedral is an attraction in its own right. Completed in 1898 - very young by European standards - the cathedral's architecture in Neo-Gothic style is worth looking at, as are the beautiful stained glass windows.

The cathedral is also a perfect refuge from bad weather and also for recharging batteries if you're a visitor stressed out from all that sightseeing (and shopping).

Being Catholic myself, I’ve attended mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral on a few occasions. Unfortunately however, it's not the easiest place to worship in because of all the tourist activity and picture-taking that goes on. People forget that it's foremost a religious place of worship and secondly, a tourist attraction.

Here's a little tip for all you practicing Catholics out there interested in attending a holiday mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. ALLOW YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO GET IN (about an hour), so ARRIVE EARLY! We came here for Easter mass once and the two lines that were formed outside were a few blocks long, even winding around the church. By the time we finally entered and got seated, mass was half-way over.

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St. Patrick's Cathedral is a Neo-Gothic Catholic Church in Manhattan. The Cathedral has been declared a National Landmark since 1976. It is the seat of the Archbishop of the Diocese of New York and is located on the east side of Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets near the Rockefeller Centre.
The present Cathedral was designed by James Renwick and was built between 1858 and completed in 1878 with a break in construction due to the Civil War.Construction began again in 1865. The Cathedral was officially opened in 1879.

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Construction at St Patrick's began in 1858, but the cathedral was not completed until 1879. It occupies a fantastic location near the middle of Manhattan on famous Madison Avenue, just a few blocks off Broadway. The is a fantastic Catholic Gothic church with twin 330 foot-tall spires and seating for 2,200.

St. Patrick's Cathedral 1858. It is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States and has been recognized throughout its history as a center of Catholic life in this country.

Visited by over 3 million people a year, St Patricks Cathedral is the largest gothic style Catholic Cathedral in the US. The cathedral opened it's doors in May 1879, and will hold over 2,000 people. It has 3 organs, and the spires rise over 300' from street level. A stop for visitors of all faiths, the cathedral is open from 7am to 8:30pm.

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St Patrick's Cathedral is a hugh cathedral located in the centre of Manhattan.

It is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and was completed in 1878.

Built of white marble in a gothic style, it is quite a spectacular structure and is the largest Catholic cathedral in the United States.

We where very impressed with its grandeur, and popped inside to have a look around a spend a quiet moment in contemplation.

St Patrick's is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States. The Cathedral was begun in 1858 by Archbishop John Hughes to replace the original St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is used today as a parish church in New York. The cornerstone was laid in August of that year, and, after a suspension of work during the years of Civil War, John Cardinal McCloskey, the first American Cardinal, resumed work in 1865, opening the doors in May, 1879. Archbishop Michael Corrigan added the towers on the West Front in 1888 and began work on the east addition, including the Lady Chapel in 1901. His successor, Cardinal Farley, completed work on the Lady Chapel addition. Cardinal Hayes completed an extensive renovation of the interior between 1927 and 1931.

Some Interesting facts:

The Windows were made by renowned artists in Chartres, France; Birmingham, England and Boston Massachusetts. The great rose window is acknowledged to be the finest work designed by Charles Connick, the 20th century genius in stained glass window design..
The Cathedral seats about 2,200 people.

* The exterior length is about 405 feet; the width is 274 feet.

* The spires rise 330 feet from street level.

* The architect was James Renwick, an American. The Lady Chapel was designed by another American, Charles Mathews.

* The St. Michael and St. Louis altar was designed by Tiffany and Company. The St. Elizabeth altar was designed by Paolo Medici of Rome.

* The Archbishops of New York are buried in a crypt under the high altar. Their honorary hats, called galeros, hang from the ceiling over their tombs.

* The Stations of the Cross are works of art which won first prize at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.

* The Pieta is three times larger than the Pieta in St. Peter's, Rome.

* The Cathedral has three organs.

* The baldachin over the main altar is solid bronze.

* Each year over 3 million people visit St. Patrick's Cathedral