Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Having visited several on this list and recently having visited DC, I cannot imagine how the National Cathedral wouldn't be at the very top of the list. All listed are beautiful and transcendent in their own way. But the National Cathedral is simply something apart from the rest.
National Cathedral is a much more authentic reproduction of a medieval cathedral with a crossing, rood screen, Quire, high altar, etc., which is what gives it such austere grandeur.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is more of a 19th century riff on gothic. It’s more open because there is no Quire and the altar is brought forward, but it has the effect of feeling more like an unusually large and elaborate parish church.
If you’re accustomed to real European cathedrals, Saint Patrick’s feels oddly out of balance.
I don't think that the photos shown earlier give the Cathedral of St. Paul (which is also called the National Shrine to the Apostle Paul, as an interesting fact) enough credit. Also, I disagree with what was said earlier about the interior being nothing special. I don't necessarily think that it is the best cathedral in the country, but it is certainly in the top 5. Not to mention, it is one of the top 5 largest (by volume) cathedrals in the U.S. and it is the 3rd tallest cathedral in the U.S. Most of the other cathedrals reach their height through towers, so the main ceiling is not as high. One of the things that makes the inside of St. Paul's cathedral so awe-inspiring when you walk in is that, since the cathedral reaches its heing through the main dome, its main ceiling is also part of the highest point of the cathedral. Therefore, the dome towers over 250 feet above you. Because of that, the interior isn't going to look like the gothic cathedrals since it doesn't have a ribbed, vaulted ceiling and structure, but instead gives more of a open, spacious feeling with massive stone and golden arches, gilded and detailed domes, murals, paintings, and windows. It is very different from other cathedrals because the inside is just so openly massive, yet still covered in detail. The cathedral also is on top of a hill overlooking downtown, and with its distinct shape it looks very cool in the distance and at night, not to mention from the ground.
Can you believe that some people call these churches their place of worship?! They seem more like shrines than actual churches.
Well it all depends on how you were raised. A lot of the cathedrals/churches posted are Catholic and a lot of Catholic church interiors look like that. Nothing wrong with it that's just the environment some people feel comfortable worshiping in. Lively Stone at the bottom of page 3 is a beautiful cathedral and boy do those folks know how to praise the Lord. It's one of those pentecostal churches. It's a pretty popular well known church in St. Louis.....check it out:
Heck, you're in New York, right? AmTrak's a short hop.
Jersey. And I've taken Amtrak down, but I also drive down once in a while to visit a friend in Arlington. I've been to DC several times and have seen a lot of the memorials and museums, but not the Cathedral. Maybe next trip.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
