Cathedral of St. Joseph (Hartford, Connecticut)

Cathedral of St. Joseph
41°46′5.56″N 72°41′31.98″W / 41.7682111°N 72.6922167°W / 41.7682111; -72.6922167
Location 140 Farmington Ave.
Hartford, Connecticut
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic Church
Website www.cathedralofsaintjoseph.com
History
Founded 1872
Dedicated May 15, 1962
Architecture
Architect(s) Eggers & Higgins
Style Postmodern
Completed 1962
Specifications
Capacity 1,880
Length 284 feet (87 m)
Width 156 feet (48 m)
Number of spires One
Spire height 281 feet (86 m)
Materials Concrete & Limestone
Bells 12
Administration
Archdiocese Archdiocese of Hartford
Clergy
Archbishop Most Rev. Leonard Paul Blair
Rector Rev. Father James Shanly 6/2015

The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut, United States, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Dedicated on May 15, 1962, it stands on the site of the old cathedral destroyed by fire on December 31, 1956. Designed by Eggers & Higgins of New York, it rises 281 feet from the sidewalk. The cathedral is located on Farmington Avenue just outside downtown Hartford across from the Aetna building.

The bell tower contains 12 carillon bells cast in the Netherlands by Petit & Fritsen. They range in weight from 225 pounds up to 3850 pounds. The cathedral itself is made of concrete with the outside covered in Alabama limestone. The cathedral is noted for its large expanse of spectacular stained glass windows crafted in Paris, and the ceramic tile mural behind the altar depicting "Christ in Glory," which is the largest in the world. The capacity of the cathedral is about 1,880 people including the two side chapels. There is also a lower church below the upper church.

Chapels

There are two main chapels on the side of the church. One contains the tabernacle and altar. It contains a mural of Jesus and his disciples. The chapel on the left has a mural depicting the holy family. Other small chapels are made of mosaic and contains kneelers for visitors.

Organ

The pipe organ is one of the largest in Connecticut containing more than 8,000 pipes. The organ is designed by the Austin Organ Company, which is based in Hartford. It has four manuals and includes 137 ranks. The organ has been used for many concerts.

Exterior
Detail of the front wall sculpture 
Church front door with bas-relief sculpture
Front door 
Inscription on the base of the front door, from Psalms 92:12-13: "The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow like the cedar of Lebanon; they that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."
Inscription at the base of the front door 
Interior
Statue facing a city building with Greek columns and huge U.S. flag
The nave 
Profile of stone face on mountainside, with 3 workers.
Stained Glass on the left side of the cathedral. 
Shiny silver coin with profile of Washington bust.
Stained Glass on the right side of the cathedral 
Shiny silver coin with profile of Washington bust.
Blessed Sacrament chapel on the right side of the cathedral. 


References

    External links

    Coordinates: 41°46′06″N 72°41′32″W / 41.768210°N 72.692218°W / 41.768210; -72.692218

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