This is my first post on a blog, my posts will likely improve as time goes on. Comments, questions, and thoughts appreciated.
Cathedral of the Madeline
Salt Lake City, Utah
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This church visit was from a April 2021 visit to Salt Lake City. Aside from all the Mormon churches found literally everywhere, this was the only Catholic Church in the Salt Lake City area, give for an Eastern Orthodox cathedral near the downtown. I made the stupid mistake of trying to bike up a mountain, while sorely out of shape, and on top of that, breathing in air at an altitude 3,500 feet higher than normal. I pulled down a side alley and was treated to this magnificent view. There's the Cathedral, dead center. |
This was the rear view of the cathedral. To the rear was the Madeline Choir School, a relatively famous school with a well renowned choir. The Cathedral was built between 1900 and 1909. The exterior is very Romanesque, (Thick stone walls, small windows, etc) while the interior is very Gothic, (slender columns, vaulted ceilings, etc.)
The Cathedral and what was originally the rectory, (now an office of some sort ) The use of stone made for a striking visual image. The steep incline of the neighboring mountains made for the structure in the rear to be halfway into the ground. The front however was raised us significantly, and had a large stairway entrance. In essence, the front was really cool
The façade is reminiscent of the great cathedrals of Europe. Especially the image of Our Lord with two fingers raised is used to represent the hypostatic union of Christ's two natures of human and divine in the Incarnation.
Behind the structure was an elevated parking lot that made for an interesting view of the cathedral. This tower of a building sits 9 inches higher than the Mormon temple. Although the temple is physically taller, the cathedral is built from a higher elevation. Leave it to Catholics to build a church 9 inches taller than everyone else
The interior was originally white with green accents. Under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Glass, the church was utterly redecorated and the current color scheme emerged. The style is unusual as it is Spanish Gothic. Normally, gothic churches are French, Polish, or German and occasionally English. Spanish style churches in North America tend to be either of the Pueblo mission style, or 16th century Baroque. Because this cathedral is neither, it is markedly unique even removed from the extravagant artwork.
This is the rear of the church. Although it is difficult to see, in each pew, flanking the hymnal rack, is a speaker providing audio to each pew giving the audio quality a more first person feel. Instead of there being lector at a far off pulpit warbling some epistle while speakers echo around the church to the point of bedlam, the speakers on the pews make it seem like the lector is two feet in front of you. It's an expensive feature, but a practical and unique feature nonetheless
This candle along the wall is part of an long forgotten Catholic tradition. Consecration candles were used as a distinction for churches that were higher ranking than dedicated, but not a Cathedral. (Although cathedrals could be consecrated) The 12 candles are placed exactly where a bishop marks them with holy oil and are a visible sign of the status of the church. The checklist for a church to be dedicated are also very rigorous including the stability of the building, the likelihood that it will remain in the hands of the church, and even the financial status of the building.
The stations of the cross were like the rest of the church, lavishly decorated.
There were five stained glass windows on either side of the church, both sides were the Joyful and Glorious mysteries of the Rosary.
The sanctuary was a slight disappointment. Where a lovely high altar had once stood, now was an adoration/Blessed Sacrament chapel. A new altar had been constructed and brought far out into the pews. (the pews on the transepts, or the sides of the church, had been turned to face inward) and the Cathedra had been moved from the left side, (you can still see the frame) to the center
Originally there would have been an altar at this shrine where priests would have said a daily Mass, or a private Mass. The altar itself appears to have been cut out, and the façade simply put over the blank space.
This monstrosity of an organ is from a 1993 renovation. The organ has over 4000 pipes, over 70 ranks (Individual sounds among pipes), 4 manuals, (levels of keys) and is a tracker type organ. On a normal organ, pressing a key turns on a key which either open a pipe, or activates a computer generated noise. This organ is entirely manual, when the organist presses a key, it physically opens a pipe. This adds a level of authenticity that can't be found in generic organs. And the front facing pipes actually function as trumpets; perfect for a fanfare or something of a similar caliber
The Ascension and the Coronation
The walls of the sanctuary were absolutely stunning. In the 1980's soot had gathered over the murals to the point where people complained that the murals were actually dull. A sample work of restoration was done to an image of Saint Charles Borromeo, (To the left of the window and hidden behind the column.) The dull images contrasted sharply with the now vibrant image of the saint. In fact, pictures of the two seem to be altered as the image stands out so dramatically. This eventually spurred a full restoration of the interior
A side window of the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple. This is a perfect canvas for such an imaginative scene from the Gospels. The stained glass adds a level of depth that we as humans sometimes don't even bother to consider. Obscure details like, 'what would have been the floor?' or what would the Scribes and Pharisees been wearing?'
Also, there were way more than 14 stations of the cross, note that the two flanking the side shrine are both depictions of the Crucifixion, but in the traditional stations, only one is dedicated to the Crucifixion
This statue gives an idea of what all the statuary and woodwork in the church appeared to be like
Side altar of saint Joseph to the right of the sanctuary. The panels are on hinges and likely are folded inward during lent and have penitential decoration on the other side
The Cathedra. To the upper left is the aforementioned Saint Charles depiction. To the right is the reredos where the altar used to stand. The gold spire behind the Cathedra is the Tabernacle
Being the Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene, they naturally had a first class relic of the saint (First class is a part of the body of the saint)
Finally, this is what the side shrines would have looked like before their altar's were cut away. This church was definitely worth the excruciating bike ride.
