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

Architecture, Dimensions and Location Of tho
New Sacred Ediace-Elabsrate Design and
Gorgeous Embellishments sf the Interior
Progress of the Work.
II New York has Catholic Cathedral unrivaod
on the American Continent the City OF Churches II
about TO have her Cathedral, which. II 1t be less
superb In the costiness OF MATERIAL Is no less grand
IN architectural design its immense capacity and
the beauty OF Its decorations.
In the month OF June 1865, on a rising ground
situated between Vanderbilt avenue and Clermonr
avenue, the foundation OF this new structure, called
the Cathedral OF the Immaculate Conception, was
commenced and IN June, 1858 the corner stone was
laid, with all the imposing ceremonial OF the Catho-
lie Church, by Bishop Loughlan-a ceremony which
was witnessed by thousands OF persons both from
New York and Brooklyn and the surrounding dis
tricts What the estimated expense might have
been does not appear, but from the best calculation
that could venture upon from what 1t IS intended
to make the building both externally and internally.
1t can hardly be less than 81, 100000.
DIMENSIONS OF THE CATHEDRAL.
The extreme length OF the edidce from the towers
In front TO the OF the chapel Is 354 feet length
from front entrance TO rear OF the apse sanctuary
2s4 feet extreme breadth OF the transept 100 feet;
extreme breadth OF nave ana aisle5 88 feet. There
Will be two chapeis, one at each OF the front
entrances The larger one willbe 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 80
feet square at the base and VIII be $50 feet high from
the surface to the tap OF tile cross. The small towers
the ransept are II leet at the base, and Will DO
1856 feet high. The top OF the nave roof will be liz
feet above the level Of the street. The aisle walls
will be 81 feet nigh; the nave and transept ceilings
SO eet above the level OF the door, and the alse &c IL
ings SO feet. from these asle5 tho church VII De
The nave VIII be terminated by an apse OF five
cid md WI
tuary VIII be 81 feet long and IS feet wide. The asle5
Will terminate with small cnapels and affairs. Arch
ways VIII open from The arms OF the transept into
the large chapels. Such are the dimensions OF the
vast structure.
The chief materials are blue granite, built In
courses OF broken asners varying from eight TO SIX
teen inches in height; all the interior trimmings
and dressings to be Of white granite. the window
4 tracery and decorations OF ONO bun freestone,
lars Of % the doorways red red grane The contrasts
| formed by these varied materials Will produce
| very beautiful effect.
| The roof will be Of OAK timber covered with the
best quality oil slate. The floors will be paved with
encoustic tile, the furniture OF oak. dressed with
/ black walnut.
| Through the two large towers, placed diagonaly
| with the church, win be the principal entrances.
The west tower Will contain the clock and large bell.
There Will be a chime OF bells In the eastern. To
each tower there Will be stair turre so that the
! tower and spire can be assembled 10 the height OF
| 245 feet. These towers connected in front with
| TWO small cnapels by large vestlbule. Inc nave
small towers at the angles OF the transept VIII have
the Angeles" bell in one and the vesper bell In the
| other.
THE COUP D'GIL.
On entering the church the appearance VIII be-
grand. The long perspective OF the often-repeated,
tall pillars with their decorated capitals from which
VIII spring the numerous pointed arches OF the Gle
restoTy and ceilings, enriched by tracing foliage
OF the chancel viii be enriched with canopei nches
filed with statuary anu triforium arcadcs TO suit the
chantrles, all OF which WIN be Illuminated with gold
and color.
One OF the beautiful features OF this noble edince
will be the i've large chancei windows, which will be
filled with pictures-"The Annunciation,r 'The
Nativity OF Our Lord" 1.-THE Crucinxion,r "The
Resurrection the Ascension into Heaven,n In
the large window In the eastern transept VIII be the
coronation OF the Blessed Virgin In Heaven"
Among the pictures in The stained windows there
Will be which cannot fail to touch the Irish heart
the large window N the eastern transept Will De
filed with scenes from the life OF St Patrick, aud in the
centre bay window there will be q lfe-size or the
patron saint Of the Emerald isle under beautiful
canopy TO be enriched by the entwlning OF the
shamrock. In the bays ON the right side viii be q
picture or St. Patrick landing in Ireland, and on the
eft his preaching to the people. The large windows
representing the principal mysteries or religion.
ARCHITECTURE AND PROGRESS OF THE WORK
The entire aisle Will be paved with encoustc tiles
OF varied design: the steps OF the sanctuary and
chapel will be OF marble; The chance ratings will be
or gilt bronze; the STALL throne and pre-deu OF the
richest material and in the first style OF workman
| snIp The style of architecture selected is most
| appropriate for such an immense buiding-namely,
the French Gothic OF the thirteenth century, which,,
with It's clustered shafts moulded bases, decorated
caps, richly traceried windows, varied statuarys
rinnacled ana gaoleI canopeS contributed 50 lnucu
TO beauty or the style OF the Church IN her most
glorious DAYS.
The progress made in the erection, considering the
vast amount of work TO be got through and the
gigantic nature OF the structure is considerable.
The large chapel Ia the rear Is about ready TO b5
roofed the walls or which are some fifteen feet high
on one side and eight or nine feet on the other.
There are some twenty men engaged on the build
ing and the number will shortly be largely increased
From the dimensions already given 1t will be seen
that the Brooklyn Cathedral win, when iinshed, be
capable OF seating some II, 00J or 900 persons.
The architect IL Mr.. Patrick q. Keey the builder
Is Mr.. Francis Curran.