Cathedral of Saint John Gualbert
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Saint John Gualbert is the co-cathedral
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
, located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
.
, Louis and M. J. Beezer. Bricklayers, an architectural monthly published in Boston
, stated at the time, "Constructively and artistically, this design offers a great deal of interest. As far as we can recollect at this moment, it is the only building of its kind in existence."
The most unique feature of the church's construction is its steel
superstructure: almost 170000 pounds (77,110.7 kg) of steel were used to construct the foundation. Another 420000 pounds (190,508.8 kg) were used for the structure of the nave
and roof. The prodigious amount of steel used—that is, about 590000 pounds (267,619.5 kg)—allowed the cross to be placed in its position at the highest point of the tower several days before the cornerstone was laid; the roof was completed before the foundation walls were even constructed. Construction on the church began on August 7, 1895, and was completed at a cost of $75,000. The cornerstone was laid on October 13, 1895.
on the right side of the facade was built in an Italianate style
, with decorative details illustrating ecclesiastical ceremonies and traditions. The smaller, 104 feet (31.7 m) tall tower on the left houses the church's 3200 pounds (1,451.5 kg) bell, which once occupied the tower of an older church in Johnstown. The bell had survived a fall from its belfry
during the 1889 Johnstown Flood
, and was recast in 1890.
The roof of the church was originally laid in earthen Spanish tile, but was replaced with slate in 1915. The shingles
currently in place were laid in 1994 due to deterioration of the slate and to reduce the weight of the roof. Another later addition were the four large bronze doors in place at the entrance to the church. Installed in 1965, they were cast in Italy and depict four scenes in the life of the church's patron
, St. John Gualbert.
was donated by Andrew Carnegie
through the influence of Charles Schwab
. New stops
were installed in 1915, and it was electrified and rebuilt in 1922. The organ now consists of 1,929 pipes, having been again rebuilt by Tellers Organ Company of Erie
into a three-chambered electro-pneumatic
pipe organ in the 1950s. The choir loft also houses the studio and control room used by Proclaim!
.
The original high altar
and many of the accompanying statues were removed in post-Vatican II
renovations and now reside in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. The Shrine of Saint Anne, a chapel at the rear of the building that measures 32 by, was designed by Comes, Perry, and McMullen, a Pittsburgh architectural firm, and constructed in 1895.
Co-cathedral
A co-cathedral is a cathedral church which shares the function of being a bishop's seat, or cathedra, with another cathedral. Instances of this occurred in England before the Protestant Reformation in the dioceses of Bath and Wells, and of Coventry and Lichfield, hence the names of these dioceses...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is a Roman Catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. It was established in May 1901 as the Diocese of Altoona; on October 9, 1957 the name changed to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. It consists of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Huntingdon and...
, located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
.
Construction
The architects of St. John Gualbert Church were natives of AltoonaAltoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, Louis and M. J. Beezer. Bricklayers, an architectural monthly published in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, stated at the time, "Constructively and artistically, this design offers a great deal of interest. As far as we can recollect at this moment, it is the only building of its kind in existence."
The most unique feature of the church's construction is its steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
superstructure: almost 170000 pounds (77,110.7 kg) of steel were used to construct the foundation. Another 420000 pounds (190,508.8 kg) were used for the structure of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and roof. The prodigious amount of steel used—that is, about 590000 pounds (267,619.5 kg)—allowed the cross to be placed in its position at the highest point of the tower several days before the cornerstone was laid; the roof was completed before the foundation walls were even constructed. Construction on the church began on August 7, 1895, and was completed at a cost of $75,000. The cornerstone was laid on October 13, 1895.
Exterior
The cathedral building extends 66 feet (20.1 m) in width on Clinton Street and 124 feet (37.8 m) in length on Locust Street, and the main body of the church is 47 feet (14.3 m) tall. The 180 feet (54.9 m) high campanileCampanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
on the right side of the facade was built in an Italianate style
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
, with decorative details illustrating ecclesiastical ceremonies and traditions. The smaller, 104 feet (31.7 m) tall tower on the left houses the church's 3200 pounds (1,451.5 kg) bell, which once occupied the tower of an older church in Johnstown. The bell had survived a fall from its belfry
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
during the 1889 Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
, and was recast in 1890.
The roof of the church was originally laid in earthen Spanish tile, but was replaced with slate in 1915. The shingles
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
currently in place were laid in 1994 due to deterioration of the slate and to reduce the weight of the roof. Another later addition were the four large bronze doors in place at the entrance to the church. Installed in 1965, they were cast in Italy and depict four scenes in the life of the church's patron
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
, St. John Gualbert.
Interior
The church's 1897 pipe organPipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
was donated by Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
through the influence of Charles Schwab
Charles M. Schwab
Charles Michael Schwab was an American steel magnate. Under his leadership, Bethlehem Steel became the second largest steel maker in the United States, and one of the most important heavy manufacturers in the world....
. New stops
Organ stop
An organ stop is a component of a pipe organ that admits pressurized air to a set of organ pipes. Its name comes from the fact that stops can be used selectively by the organist; some can be "on" , while others can be "off" .The term can also refer...
were installed in 1915, and it was electrified and rebuilt in 1922. The organ now consists of 1,929 pipes, having been again rebuilt by Tellers Organ Company of Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
into a three-chambered electro-pneumatic
Electro-pneumatic action
The electro-pneumatic action is a control system for pipe organs, whereby air pressure, controlled by an electric current and operated by the keys of an organ console, opens and closes valves within wind chests, allowing the pipes to speak. This system also allows the console to be physically...
pipe organ in the 1950s. The choir loft also houses the studio and control room used by Proclaim!
Proclaim!
Proclaim! is a Catholic news and discussion broadcast aired on Fox affiliate WWCP-TV in the Johnstown/Altoona/State College PA Television Market since December 2, 2001. They also produce Johnstown-Altoona Diocese Mass live from St. John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown. The Mass telecast has aired...
.
The original high altar
Altar (Catholicism)
In the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the altar is where the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Mass may sometimes be celebrated outside a sacred place, but never without an altar, or at least an altar stone.-Precedent:...
and many of the accompanying statues were removed in post-Vatican II
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
renovations and now reside in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. The Shrine of Saint Anne, a chapel at the rear of the building that measures 32 by, was designed by Comes, Perry, and McMullen, a Pittsburgh architectural firm, and constructed in 1895.
Ecclesiastical history
On November 11, 1957, the Diocese of Altoona was renamed as the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, which made St. John Gualbert the co-cathedral of the newly designated diocese.Rectors
The cathedral parish of Saint John Gualbert has had seven rectors since its founding in 1891:- Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Boyle, V.G.Vicar generalA vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
(1891–1921) - Rt. Rev. John N. Codori, V.G., LL.D.Legum DoctorLegum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
(1921–1947) - Rt. Rev. Edward B. Daly (1947–1968)
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edwards J. Davis (1968–1987)
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Philip P. Saylor (1987–1993)
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. George B. Flinn, V.G. (1993–2009)
- Very Rev. James F. Crookston (2009–present)
External links
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown official website
- Cathedral of Saint John Gualbert webpage