Inspired by Notre Dame in Paris, the third largest
Episcopal cathedral in the US stands on the site of Charles Crocker’s
Nob Hill mansion, which was destroyed in the 1906 disaster. Work began
on it in 1910 but was not finally completed until 1964. It is
constructed of steel and concrete, despite its Gothic look, so as to
withstand the city’s seismic vagaries. The interior is replete with
marble and abundant stained glass, and other sumptuous touches both
within and without make it one of America’s most lavish religious
structures.
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“Nob” was one of the kinder
names reserved for the unscrupulous entrepreneurs who built their
mansions on this, San Francisco’s highest hill .
Some say the name derives from “nabob”, the title for a provincial
potentate in India; others say it’s simply a contraction of “snob”, a
theory that would also seem plausible. Despite the loss of almost all of
the mansions in the 1906 earthquake, the hill’s poshness remains, as
home to the city’s most celebrated luxury hotels.
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Floorplan of Grace Cathedral
Façade
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The cathedral has a simple café, located downstairs on the north side of Cathedral Close, along with a shop.
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Visit the cathedral during Thursday Evensong (usually at 5:15pm), when the lighting is at its most dramatic.
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The Chapel of Grace seats 120 people and is used for daily services, weddings, and special events.
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Top 10 Features
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Carillon Tower
The
belfry contains a carillon of 44 bronze bells, cast in England in 1938.
The bourdon bell, which tolls the hour, is the largest European-style
bell in the US. Many of the bells have evocative names, such as Loving
Kindness, and Joy to the World.
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Rose Window
This
25-ft (8-m) work of faceted glass symbolizes the themes of the Canticle
of the Sun, a famous devotional poem written by St. Francis of Assisi.
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Chapel of Grace
This
chapel was the first completed unit of the cathedral (1930). Its
architecture, windows, and apse mural were inspired by the royal Sainte
Chapelle in Paris. Its furnishings are a mix of ages and origins,
including the medieval French stone altar, the 17th-century German altar
cross, the English Gothic prayer desk, and the painting of the Madonna
and Child inspired by Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini.
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Doors of Paradise
The
cathedral doors are bronze and gold plate replicas of the ones made for
the Baptistry in Florence, Italy. The 10 panels depict Old Testament
stories, beginning at the top left with Adam and Eve.
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New Testament Window
The theme of this window is brotherhood and the church. Christ stands with a welcoming gesture, with His disciples flanking.
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20th-Century Windows
The
theme of these windows is human endeavor and they depict creative
20th-century Americans, including physicist Albert Einstein, and
astronaut John Glenn.
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Keith Haring’s Altarpiece
The
AIDS Interfaith Memorial Chapel contains a triptych altarpiece of
bronze and white gold by the New York artist Keith Haring. It was
completed shortly before his own death from AIDS. The central panel
shows a multi-armed figure of compassion, while the side panels depict
winged souls soaring above.
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The Organ
This
monumental organ dates from 1934. The carved English oak organ screens
show angelic musicians, songbirds, and dragons, as well as the
instruments of Christ’s Passion in the lower portions.
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Marble Labyrinth
The
Interfaith Outdoor Labyrinth is a replica of the one at Chartres
Cathedral in France. Such labyrinths were used in medieval times to
mimic the arduous pilgrimage to Jerusalem; this practice has recently
been revived.
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Maze and Bufano St. Francis of Assisi
Just
beyond the entrance is another floor labyrinth, and an appealing statue
of St. Francis of Assisi by the late San Franciscan sculptor Beniamino
Bufano.
