The Irish standard., 1910-07-23
CATHEDRALS COMPARED
Some Facts Showing Relative Size
of London and St. Paul
Cathedrals.
Work is Gradually Progressing But
it Will Take Years for it's
Completion.

While the Catholic world is marvel
ing at the grandeur Of the new West
minister Cathedral which was conse-
Grated in London a few weeks ago, it
may not be amiss to make a few str'k-
ing comparisons between the great
English edif1ce and that which will
soon attract world wide attention from
its commanding position on Summit
avenue, st. Paul.
Since the laying Of the cornerstone
on June 2, 1907, the ST. Paul cathedral
has been gradually assuming form,
and yet, owing to it's vast dimensions,
the work has not proceeded far above
the basement and, as matter of fact,
even this. part of the great ediflce is
not entirely complete Work, however,
has begun on the superstructure which
it is expected will soon progress at the
rate of 800 cubic feet per day. In
short time sculptors will be on the
scene shaping the granite which will
be used in the. construction of the
building. Here it may be mentioned
that practically all the material used
in the cathedral will be secured in. the
state of Minnesota, a fact which
speaks we'll for the resources of the
North Star state
st. Paul's and Westminster COMPARED
The following comparisons will show
the relative size of the Westminster.
st. Louis and st. Paul cathedrals. The
new Westminster cathedral has a floor
space Of 10000 square feet; the floor
space of the st. Louis cathedral ia
about 1880 square feet, while the
floor space of, the st. Paul cathedral
is 16,464 square sfeet. Architect Mas
queray estimates the capacity of the
main floor of the st. Paul cathedral
at between, three and four thousand.
If, however, the entire building were
taxed to It's limit it would in all prob
ability accommodate twice that num-.
Der. .,,.t -,
The dome Of the Westminster cathe-
dral is 112 feet above the ground: that
Of the st. Louis cathedral rises to a
height Of 227 feet, while. the dome of
the st. Paul edifice will tower 800 feet
above the Foundation and will have a
diameter Of 113 feet. .r...,
The St. Paul; cathedral is, not far
from the" new state capitol and when
completed will rival the latter for the
grandeur of it's architecture 1t will
overlook the entire city of st. Paul
from practically every point of which
it will be visible. The great heigh.
and remarkable dimensions pf the
dome will make the cathedral the first
object to attract the gaze Of travellers
entering the Sanity City.
There will be thirteen chapels in
the building. At the south end of the
vestibule will be the baptistry and at
the north end will be the memorial
chapel, erected to the honor of those
who subscribed toward the erection T..
the building.
Just inside of the vestibule in a
semi circular space is large chapel,
and on the opposite side to the north
will be st. Joseph's chapel. On the
west end of the south transcept will
be chapel dedicated to st. Peter,
while on the west end of the north
transcept will be the chapel dedicated
to St. Paul, both patron saints of the
cathedral Outside Of the sanctuary
in the rear Of the main altar will be
q passageway entirely around the rear
Of the sacristy. into which will open
seven chapels at the rear of the build
Ing dedicated to the apostles Of ma
tons. First will come ST., Patrick's
chapel. dedicated to the Irish: then
follow in their regular order the chapel
of st. Reney, French; st. Augustine's.
English; st. Boniface, German; st.
| Ansgarius, Scandinavian; st. Meth
odius and st. Cyril, Slav. The center
of the rear chapel will be dedicated to
all the saints, and the chapel of ST.
Jean Baptiste will be dedicated to the
Canadian French. "s,
1t is the hope Of those in charge of
the work that the building will be
enclosed within the next two years.