St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City
St. Patrick's Cathedral mingles with skyscrapers. Photo
Still Burning.
St. Patrick's overlooks traffic on Fifth Avenue. Photo
David Hsu.
View of St. Patrick's from the Rockerfeller Center. Photo
OnkelBoe.
Interior during a night service. Photo
Beau Wade.
Location map and aerial view of St. Patrick's Cathedral. For a larger interactive view, see our New York City Map.
St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Built in a Neo-Gothic style in the 19th century, St. Patrick's is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States (the Episcopalian Cathedral of St. John the Divine, also in New York, is larger). Over three million people visit St. Patrick's Cathedral each year.
History
Designed by American architect James Renwick, St. Patrick's Cathedral was begun in 1859 to replace an earlier cathedral. The cathedral's predecessor, known as "Old St. Patrick's," is still used as a parish church and is the oldest Catholic building in the city.
After interruptions due to the Civil War, the new cathedral was consecrated in 1879. Additions continued over the years, including the archbishop's house and rectory, the two 330-foot spires (1888), and the intimate Lady Chapel (1901).
The Irish Catholic congregation made a powerful statement when they chose the 5th Avenue location for their church. During the week, most of them came to the neighborhood to work for the wealthy. But on Sunday, at least, they could claim a prestigious spot for themselves.
The current Archbishop of New York, Edward M. Egan, was made a cardinal in 2001. Past archbishops are buried in the crypt beneath the high altar, where their ceremonial hats hang over their tombs. Many of the funerals for fallen New York City police and firefighters were held here in the fall of 2001.
What to See
St. Patrick's Cathedral is a vast Gothic structure made of white marble and stone that seats about 2,400 people. The impressive interior contains numerous altars and statues worth a look.
The St. Michael and St. Louis altar was designed by Tiffany's, also located here on Fifth Avenue. The St. Elizabeth altar was designed by Paolo Medici of Rome and includes a modern statue. It honors Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint.
The stained-glass windows were created by artists in Chartres, France; Birmingham, England and Boston, Massachusetts. The cathedral's Pieta statue is three times larger than Michelangelo's in St. Peter's Basilica.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | St. Patrick's Cathedral |
| Dedicated to: | St. Patrick |
| Location: | New York City, New York, USA |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 1859-79 |
| Architecture: | Neo-Gothic |
| Features: | Largest |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 40.758652° N, 73.97614° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Street, New York City, NY |
| Phone: | 212-753-2261 |
| Hours: | Sun-Fri 7am-8:30pm; Sat 8am-8:30pm |
| Cost: | Free |
| Services: | Mon-Fri 7am, 7:30am, 8am, 8:30am, noon, 12:30pm, 1pm, 5:30pm; Sat: 8am, 8:30am, noon, 12:30pm, 5:30pm; Sun: 7am, 8am, 9am, 10:15am (Cardinal's mass), noon, 1pm, 4pm, 5:30pm; Holy days: 7am, 7:30am, 8am, 8:30am, 9am, 11am, 11:30am, noon, 12:30pm, |
| Public transport: | Subway B, D, F, V to 47-50th Sts./Rockefeller Center |
Travel Resources
- New York City Map - our detailed interactive map of New York City, plus hand-picked links to more
- New York City Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in New York City
- New York City Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- New York City Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- New York City Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- New York City Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on New York City tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Frommer's New York City 2005,
- Fodor's New York City 2005
- St. Patrick's Cathedral – Archdiocese of New York
- St. Patrick's Cathedral – Medieval New York
- Saint Patrick's Cathedral – NY.com
- St. Patrick's Cathedral – NYC Tourism
Article last updated: 08/15/2009.
