Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston is the historic cathedral
church of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
. Located at 138 Tremont Street
near Downtown Crossing
, directly across from Boston Common and Park Street Station, the cathedral is adjacent to the diocesan offices. The current dean
of the cathedral is the Very Reverend John P. "Jep" Streit.
es in Boston, Christ Church (better known as Old North Church
), and Trinity Church
. Both had been founded before the American Revolution
as part of the Church of England
. The founders of St. Paul's wanted a totally American parish in Boston.
Unusually, at that time, for a church building, St. Paul's was built in Greek Revival architectural style. Its architects were Alexander Parris
, best known for Quincy Market
, and Solomon Willard
, best known for the Bunker Hill Monument
. Its granite exterior and sandstone temple front have changed little since its construction. A carving of St. Paul
preaching before King Agrippa II
was intended to be placed in the pediment over the entrance, but was never executed.
Congregants included Daniel Webster
.
named St. Paul's as its cathedral. At this point its chancel was remodeled with a coffered and gilded half-dome, elaborately carved wood reredos
, a chancel organ and choir benches. The new chancel's architect was Ralph Adams Cram
, known for such landmark Gothic churches as All Saints', in the Ashmont neighborhood of Boston
and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
church of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of MassachusettsThe Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts is one of the nine original dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America....
. Located at 138 Tremont Street
Tremont Street
Tremont Street is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts.-Etymology:The name is a variation of one of the original appellations of the city, "Trimountaine," a reference to a hill that formerly had three peaks. Beacon Hill, with its single peak, is all that remains of the Trimountain...
near Downtown Crossing
Downtown Crossing
Downtown Crossing is a shopping district in Boston, Massachusetts, located due east of Boston Common and west of the Financial District. It features large department stores as well as restaurants, music stores, souvenir sellers, general retail establishments, and many street vendors...
, directly across from Boston Common and Park Street Station, the cathedral is adjacent to the diocesan offices. The current dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the cathedral is the Very Reverend John P. "Jep" Streit.
19th c.
St. Paul's was founded in 1819 when there were two other Episcopal parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es in Boston, Christ Church (better known as Old North Church
Old North Church
Old North Church , at 193 Salem Street, in the North End of Boston, is the location from which the famous "One if by land, and two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent...
), and Trinity Church
Trinity Church, Boston (Summer Street)
Trinity Church was an Episcopal church in Boston, Massachusetts, located on Summer Street. It housed Boston's third Anglican congregation...
. Both had been founded before the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
as part of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. The founders of St. Paul's wanted a totally American parish in Boston.
Alexander Parris
Alexander Parris was a prominent American architect-engineer. Beginning as a housewright, he evolved into an architect whose work transitioned from Federal style architecture to the later Greek Revival. Parris taught Ammi B. Young, and was among the group of architects influential in founding what...
, best known for Quincy Market
Quincy Market
Quincy Market is a historic building near Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It was constructed 1824–1826 and named in honor of Mayor Josiah Quincy, who organized its construction without any tax or debt.-History:...
, and Solomon Willard
Solomon Willard
Solomon Willard , was a carver and builder in Massachusetts who is remembered primarily for designing and overseeing the Bunker Hill Monument, the first monumental obelisk erected in the United States.-Background:...
, best known for the Bunker Hill Monument
Bunker Hill Monument
-External links:****: cultural context**...
. Its granite exterior and sandstone temple front have changed little since its construction. A carving of St. Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
preaching before King Agrippa II
Agrippa II
Agrippa II , son of Agrippa I, and like him originally named Marcus Julius Agrippa, was the seventh and last king of the family of Herod the Great, thus last of the Herodians. He was the brother of Berenice, Mariamne, and Drusilla...
was intended to be placed in the pediment over the entrance, but was never executed.
Congregants included Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
.
20th c.
In 1912, after its neighborhood had become mainly non-residential, the dioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
named St. Paul's as its cathedral. At this point its chancel was remodeled with a coffered and gilded half-dome, elaborately carved wood reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
, a chancel organ and choir benches. The new chancel's architect was Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram FAIA, , was a prolific and influential American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings, often in the Gothic style. Cram & Ferguson and Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson are partnerships in which he worked.-Early life:Cram was born on December 16, 1863 at Hampton Falls, New...
, known for such landmark Gothic churches as All Saints', in the Ashmont neighborhood of Boston
Ashmont, Massachusetts
Ashmont is a section of the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. It includes the subsections of Ashmont Hill, Peabody Square, and Ashmont-Adams. Located near the Milton/Boston border, major streets include Ashmont Street, Gallivan Blvd., and Dorchester Avenue....
and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Ministers
- Samuel Farmar Jarvis, 1820-1825
- Alonzo PotterAlonzo PotterThe Right Reverend Alonzo Potter was an American bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States who served as the third Bishop of Pennsylvania.-Early life:...
, 1826-1831 - John Seely Stone, 1832-1841
- Alexander Hamilton Vinton, 1842-1858
- William Rufus NicholsonWilliam Rufus NicholsonWilliam Rufus Nicholson was a bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and one of the first professors at the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Episcopal Church.- Biography:...
, ca.1860s - Treadwell Walden, ca.1870s
- William Wilberforce Newton, 1877-1882
- Frederick CourtneyFrederick CourtneyThe Rt Rev Frederick Courtney was an eminent Anglican priest, the fifth Bishop of Nova Scotia. Born into an ecclesiastical family, he was educated at King's College London and ordained in 1864...
, ca.1880s