St. Patrick’s Cathedral

An international historic landmark that welcomes thousands of tourists each year. With its Neo-Gothic revival style building and beautiful stained glass windows, this Catholic Church is a must-visit place. It is also home to the Pietà sculpture, created by William Ordway Partridge in 1906. It is located to the right of the main altar. The Pietà depicts the Virgin Mary mourning the body of Jesus. 

 

It is also known as the “America’s Parish Church”, and is one of the largest Gothic Catholic cathedrals in the country. A lot of New York’s clergymen and humanitarians resting place is this cathedral. Also, the memorial Masses of some very famous American celebrities were held here. In addition to it being a tourist destination, the cathedral has also become a place for wedding ceremonies but it can be quite expensive to rent it. The Great Gatsby’s author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, married his wife Zelda Sayre here in this cathedral. They tied the knot in 1920. 

 

Now, let’s talk about the Cathedral’s building. The entrance bronze doors to the Cathedral weigh over 9,000 pounds but they are designed to be opened very easily. Also, the doors showcase many saints including St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Francis X Cabrini, and Mother Elizabeth Seton, daughter of New York. Once you’re inside, you’ll get to see the elaborate stained glass windows. And in front of that stands the magnificent high altar. It’s called a baldacchino, or in other words, a bronze canopy that is 57-foot tall. The bronze canopy glitters gold against the white shiny marble arches and looks perfect with the stained glass windows. Whenever you’re in New York, do yourself a favor and visit this cathedral to make the most of your trip. 

 

 

What to Know

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in the country covering an entire city block of Midtown Manhattan. The architecture of the building is one-of-a-kind. The Neo-Gothic architecture, lots of stained glass windows, and gorgeous bronze doors make this historic landmark quite unique. 

 

Now, let’s talk about the history of the St. Patrick Cathedral. In the 19th century, a lot of Catholics started arriving in New York. To accommodate them, the Archbishop of New York, John Hughes, suggested building a new cathedral. The construction of the cathedral began sometime in 1858. All the poor and rich people funded its construction. It was finally completed in 1879. The cathedral has been welcoming people and tourists in for worshipping or just to admire its beauty for years.

 

Another thing about this church is that people often confuse it with The Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, which is located North of Little Italy on Mulberry Street. Little Italy is a part of New York, which in the past had many Italians living in the place. When The Godfather (movie) was filmed, they used this cathedral for filming a baptism scene. 

 

The cathedral has 19 bells on the northern tower, and each one of them is named after a saint. All the bells can be played via a keyboard in the gallery. Back in the day, there were iron rods attached to the clappers used for ringing bells. But since the 1950s, they have been electrified. 

 

In the crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral are interred past nine Archbishops of New York. With these Archbishops, only one layman is buried which is Pierre Toussaint. The exception for him is because of several reasons—he was a philanthropist in the 1800s. Born into slavery, he dedicated his life to helping people in need. He is also considered to be the father of Catholic charities in New York. Pope John Paul II honored him with the title of Venerable in 1996; it is like the next step in the Catholic Church toward sainthood. First, he was buried in the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, but then he was moved to the St. Patrick’s Cathedral because of his legacy. 

 

So, an interesting fact about this church is that it has a special place in pop culture too. The hit song of the 1960s “California Dreamin’,” mentions none other than St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The 1960s overall was a decade that was very well documented. And it was full of life and color. The song “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & the Papas has a reference to this church. The lyrics of the songs start with the singers longing for warmth and safety. The inferences that we can pick from the song say that California never has brown leaves because pine and palm trees don’t change. Also, the sky is never gray (there was no smog back then). The second verse of the song actually mentions the church. The singer would go into the church to keep himself from the biting cold. Even though he doesn’t like to stay there, he pretends to pray. So, the singer pretends just that he is allowed to stay inside and get some warmth. 

 

The song’s depressing mood fit perfectly in the 1960s because America was facing such a hard time in that era. The song is now deeply connected and associated with war soldiers. Also, 1965 was the year when the American Vietnam War kicked off and the United States was still in mourning of J.F. Kennedy. 

 

The cathedral also has gift shops where you can buy candles and various other items. You can always support them by making a donation when you visit the cathedral. If you wish to light a candle once you’re in the cathedral, you’ll have to contribute $5. Lighting a candle for prayer has been a sacred ritual in all traditions. For that, you’ll have to first clear your thoughts and make the intention of praying. Then you will make the sign of the cross and pray. And you can also leave a gift on their official website if you missed the chance in person. Every penny of your donation goes into supporting and maintaining the cathedral. 

 

Overall, the St. Patrick’s Cathedral offers an experience that is both spiritual and emotional. It gives a chance to step back in time and marvel over its beauty and tranquil atmosphere. It does not matter if you’re religious or not, you’re welcome at this place at any time. The Cathedral will definitely leave a lasting impression on you!

 

How to Get There

There are several ways of getting to St. Patrick’s Cathedral as it is located just across the Rockefeller Center. It is in Midtown Manhattan on 5th Avenue. From the Grand Central Terminal, you can walk to the cathedral. The overall distance is about 10 blocks away. 

 

You can also ride a bus to the cathedral. You will find that M1, M2, and M3 buses stop on Fifth Avenue southbound and Madison Avenue northbound. There is another option of taking a subway. Within a few blocks of the cathedral, the subway lines 1, 2, 4, 6, D, and E stop. And the 53rd Street subway station/5th Avenue is a 5-minute walk away.

 

Or you can simply drive directly to the cathedral. If that’s not an option, then you can take a taxi from anywhere in New York City and it will take you to the cathedral. Another great option is to book a guided tour! 

 

Best Time to Visit 

St. Patrick Cathedral is free to visit all year round. There are no tickets for admission. In addition to that, Mass services are also free and open to the public. 

 

Fall is usually the best time to visit the cathedral. You might wanna avoid visiting the Cathedral during the summer when the temperatures can be very high. It also offers a self-guided audio tour for $20 each head. 

 

You should arrive at this place as early as possible when the cathedral opens to avoid crowds or you can visit it any time. Generally, it is less crowded earlier in the day.

 

Features and Highlights 

- The church was established in the 1800s in the Gothic style. 

- It features several dozen stained glass windows that shine against the white marble.

- Features a main altar and a very tall high altar among others.

- The entrance to the cathedral has titanic bronze doors that are around 9,000 pounds heavier.

- The bronze doors are flanked by towers with spires.

- The building has a rich Neo-Gothic architecture.

- Beautiful carvings inside with a myriad of structures and chapels. 

- The cathedral is a work of art and architectural achievement of James Renwick Junior. 

- The mother church of the Archdiocese of New York and the seat of the Archbishop. 

- The seating capacity of the cathedral is around 2,400.

- Welcomes over five million visitors each year including the locals and tourists alike. 

- The building is New York’s finest architectural sight and the spires are almost 330 feet tall.

- It covers the entire city block, including 5th Avenue, Madison Avenue, 50th Street, and 51st Street, which are directly across the Rockefeller Center.

- In North America, it is the largest Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral.

- It was built on the suggestion of Archbishop John to accommodate the growing Archdiocese of New York and also to replace the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NoLita (Little Italy).

- The northern tower features 19 bells and the interior has two pipe organs.

- The cathedral is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

- It is also a New York City designated Landmark. 

- The bronze doors depict many saints including St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Francis X Cabrini, and Mother Elizabeth Seton, daughter of New York. 

- More than 5 million people of every nationality visit this cathedral every year. 

- More than 1 million prayer candles are lit in the cathedral.

- The cathedral has a long history of offering Kilgen Organ Recitals every Sunday afternoon. These are free and open to the public and are also available on the YouTube channel.

- Easy to fit into your itinerary as it is close to the Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, New York Public Library, and Bryant Park.

- You can find the Onassis Cultural Center in New York within one-minute walking distance from the cathedral. It is a small museum and features Greek antiques and other artifacts.