The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-16
THE BROOKLYN CATHEDRAL.

Architecture, Dimensions and Location Of the
New Sacred Edlnco-Elabsrate Design and
Gorgeous Embellishments 81 che Intcrior--
Progress Of tho Work.
II New York has Catholic Cathedral unrivalled
on the American Continent the City OF Churches v
about to have her Cathedral, which. II II DO leas
superb In the costincss OF MATERIAL v no less grand
IN architectural design, It's immense capacity and
the beauty OF Its decorations.
In tho month OF June. $685. on rising ground
situated between Vanderbilt avenue and Clermons
avenue the foundation OF this new structure called
the Cathedral Of the Immaculate Conception was
commenced, ana IN June, 1868 the corner stone was
laid, with all the imposing ceremonial OF the Catho-
lio Church. by Bishop Loughlan-a ceremony which
was witnessed by thousands OF persons both from
New York and Brooklyn ana the surrounding dis.
trcts. What the estimated expense might have
been does not appear, but from the best calculation
that one could venture upon from what It Is intended
to make the building both externally and internally.
It can hardly DO less than 81, 100000.
pIMRNGoNs OF ruB CATHEDRAL.
The extreme length OF the edidce from the towers
In front to the Of the chapel S54 feet; length
from front entrance to rear OF tho apse sanctuary
25& feet extreme breadth OF the transept $50 feet
extreme breadth Of nave ana aisles, 0S feet There
Will be two chapes, one at each of the 'front.'
entrances The larger one willdbc 90 feet long ana
40 feet wide; the other Of somewhat less dimensions
The frontage Of the whole building Is 100 feet on
Lafayette avenue The large towers in front are 30
feet square at the base and VIII DO $50 feet high from
the surface to the tap OF the cross The small towers
at the transept are ~ eet at the base, and VIII be-
feet above tho level OF the street. The aise walls
viii be 81 feet nigh; the nave and transept ceilings
80 feet above the level OF The door, and the aisle CO IL
ings 50 feet From these alsl0s the church Will be
chiefly lighted.
tuary win be 81 feet long and SS feet wide. The asles
Will terminate with small chapels and affairs. Arch
ways viii open from tho arms OF the transept into
the large chapels. such are the dimensions OF the
TmE MATERIALS or CONSTRUCTION.
Tho chief materials are blue granite, built In
courses Of broken ashers, varying from eight 70 SIX
| teen inches In height; all the interior trimmings
and dressings to be OF whiie granite the window
tracery and decorations OF OHIO bun freesone
lars OF the doorways red granite. The contrasts
formed by these varied materials will produce .
The roof will be Of oak timber covered with the
best quality oil slate. The floors will be paved with
encoustlc tile, the furniture OF OAK. dressed with
| black walnut
| Through the two large towers placed diagonally
| with the church, will be tho principal entrances.
The west tower Will contain the clock aud large bell.
| There viii be chime OF bells IN the eastern. To
each tower there wlll be stair turre 80 that the
tower and spire can be assembled 10 the height OF
246 feet These towers are connected In front with
| two small cnapels by large ycstibule. The nave
and VIII DO lighted by the large windows. Tne
small towers at the angles OF the transept viii have
the "Angeles bell one and the vesper bell In tho
| other
On entering the church the appearance VIII be
| grand The long perspective OF tine oftenrepeated
Tall pillars with their decorated capitals from which
VIII spring the numerous pointed arches OF the Gle
restofy and ceilings, enriched by tracing, foliage
or the chance viii be enriched with canopiei niches
filed With statuary and riiorium arcadcs TO suit the
chantries al OF which WIN be Illuminated with gold
One OF the beautiful features OF this noble ednce
filled with pictIres-"The Annunciation,v 'srh0
nativity OF Our Lord" "The Crucnxion,n Tho
the large window in the eastern transept viii DO the
coronation OF the Blessed Virgin In lieaven.n
Among the pictures In the stained windows there
as the large window IN the eastern transept viii bo
filled with scenes from the life OF 81 Patrick aud In tho
centre bay window there Will BIO v life-size OF the
patron saint Of the Emerald Isle, under beautiful
canopy, TO be enriched by the entwlning Of tho
| shamrock. In the bays on the right side WIN DO
picture or 81. Patrick landing In Ireland and the
eft his preaching TO tho people. The large windows
In the side OF the church viii be flied with pictures
representing the principal mysteries OF religion.
ARCHITECTURE AND PROGRESS or THE WORK.
The entire aisle VIII be paved with enconstic tiles
Of varied deslgn: the steps Of the sanctuary and
chapel VIII be OF marble; the chancel ratings Will be
OF git bronco the STALL throne and prie-dleu OF the
richest material and In the FIRST style Of workman
snip. Tue style OF architecture selected Is most
| appropriate for such an immense buldng-namely.
the French Gothic OF the thirteenth century, which,
with its clustered shafts moulded bases, decorated
caps, richly tfaccried windows, varied statuarys
Pnn0ced uuu xaDleI cnnOpes contributed so tuucu
TO the beauty OF the style OF the Church IN her moss
glorious days.
The progress made in the erection, considering the
vast amount OF work to be got through and the
gigantic nature or the structure, IL considerable
The large chapel Ia the rear Is about ready TO bs
rooted, the walls OF which are some fifteen feet high
OH one side ana eight or nine feet on the other.
There are some twenty men engaged on the build.
Ing and the number Will shortly he largely increased
From the dimensions already given II will be seen
that the Brooklyn Cathedral win. when finished, be
capable OF seating some l., 00) or 1900 persons.
The architect IL Mr.. Patrick y. Keely tho builder
Ia r