The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
He Directed Work of Building
of Grace Cathedral Here.
STARTED IN TOPEKA IN 1901
Work of Raising Funds Fell
Mainly Upon the Dean.
He Believes Cathedral Should
Serve Interests OF Community.


one pastorate has not been the for
tune of a great many cIergymen- To
have directed the erection OF a house
of worship in the course of their long
terms has been the lot OF fewer. But
10 have combined these accomplish
ments with an extraordinary personal
share in the building of a notable
cathedral sets the Very Reverend
James Philip de Bevers Kaye apart
For many years Pensioners OF the
old Grace church had dreamed of a
cathedral Even in 1858. it having
become necessary to have a new place
of worship. the guild hall was erected
with a view TO its temporary use as a
church. But the proposed cathedral,
owing chiefly TO lack Of finances, was
not Vet to be Realization OF the
long-deferred hope did not seriously
commence until Dean Kaye went to
Topeka in 1901 Revived under his
leadership. the project went speedily
forward In 1909 ground was broken
for the new cathedral, and three years
later the exterior was completed A
shortage Of funds then Occasioned a
delay OF several years, so that Grace
Cathedral was not brought to its pres
enr state of completion until 1917. 1t
was cousecrated March OF that year.
Quite naturally. the work Of rais-
ing the necessary funds fell mainly
upon the dean. and this. in a parish
having but $50 members when he
came, was not an easy task. But
Dean Kave has had a much more in
innate part IN the building OF Grace
Cathedral han simply that OF a mon
ey-raiser. He not only conceived the
general architectural design but put
his thought and personality into the
building in numberless other express
sive ways.
Worked Out Plan
IN Dean Kaye the scholarly type OF
mind blends with an evident artistic
nature. Ecclesiastical art and archi-
lecture have been his lifelong studies,
in pursuit OF which he has. while on
various trips. visited most OF the
famous cathedraIs and religious
shrines OF Europe. He has spent
months in studying the old masters
works in Italy, and is an authority
on F'lorentine art. Thus equipped. he
was qualified to contribute a great
many valuable ideas to the cathedral
project Fortunately. he was per-
mitted to work out his plans with full
freedom. by reason of which Grace
Cathedral represents his thought and
labor to an unusual degree
Tho a Gothic structure and en-
bodying features taken from noted
European cathedrals. Grace Cathe-
dral is not a copy OF the medieval
church In designing it Dean Kaye
and his associates were guided by
two desires; to preserve in a general
way the traditional plan and form
Of the Christian church as II has been
handed down for many centuries vet
10 provide the comfort and couven-
fence required by the modern congre-
cation of a thousand or more persons.
The church OF the Middle Ages
made very little provision for the
comfort Of the worshipers," he said. in
explaining the architectural changes
enforced by modern conditions. There
were no seats no heat in winter. and
pillars made il next to impossible for
everyone to see and hear. But such
things matte-ed very little in the thir-
tenth century. for the service was in
a different tongue from that in which
the people spoke, sermons were few
and far between. and church atten-
dance was as far as the ordinary man
was concerned, q mere mechanical OBJ
servance Of certain acts and forms TO
be regularly followed for more or less
superstitious reasons
To conform with modern require
ments the nave OF Grace Cathedral
was therefore made both shorter and
wider, proportionately, than would
church. The ceiling too. differs from
many OF the Old World cathedraIs in
that It lacks the stone vault Instead
the ceiling Is Of wood and plaster
supported on carved wooden trusses or
hammer beams. Practical cousid era
tions dictated this departure from ira
dltIonal custom, as a stone vault would
nave cost more money than was avail
able for the entire building.
Idea Borrowed From Spain.
The chancel is smaller and lower
than the nave This idea is borrowed
rom the cathedral at Corona. Spain
Il IS not only an effective arrangement
from an esthetic point of view, but
provides room at the sides for the
cnolr room, sacristy and morning
Tho the chapel is incomplete. il is a
beautiful spot and one of the most
noteworthy features OF the cathedral
Its floor is OF marble and terrazzo.
All its woodwork is OF fine black wal
nut the satiu-like wainscotinS being
especially attractive. This wafnscot-
lns has an appealing connection with
the history Of Grace Cathedral as il
was made from the pews used in the
lirst church OF the parish, which was
begun in 1851 The timber from which
the pews were made was cut BY the
pioneers in the woods surrounding To-
pelSs, and shaped entirely by hand.
Above the altar OF the chapel is a
large original painting The Trans
figuration OF Christ This canvas is
BY George NJ Stone. a noted artist
and has been highly praised by art
critics BY means OF a separate con-
sole seven stops of the main pipe
organ can be played fer services in the
chapel
The glass in the cathedral windows
IS believed to be artisticaIly equal to
any IN America, and perhaps is as
good as exists. 1t is a copy OF the
best glass placed in the cathedraIs OF
the fifteenth century All the win
dows conform to a plan pre-arranged
by Dean KAYE This not only made
possible uniform excellence in the
windows. but permitted the instaIIa-
ton OF a series depicting the chief
events in the life OF Christ Beginning
with a scene of the nativity in the
large window in the west transept. the
series extends around tho lower part
Of the building to the corresponding