San Francisco's Grace Cathedral
A French Gothic Oasis atop California's City by the Bay
Jun 12, 2009
San Francisco has something for everyone, which is why visitors flock to the city year-round, a fact attested to by the crowded roadways, bustling sidewalks, and overflowing hotels. Yet amid the concrete and congestion sits one of the city's most popular and cherished landmarks, Grace Cathedral.
Whether seeking refuge from the city's mad pace or simply hitting the most popular tourist spots, the enthusiastic traveler will find a welcoming sanctuary at Grace Cathedral, an Episcopal church with the look and feel of a Gothic cathedral - complete with soaring spires, ornate carvings, and intricate stained glass windows.
Located across from Huntington Park and near the top of Nob Hill, the cathedral provides an imposing, yet hospitable, space where all are welcome, whether they come to worship, seek solitude, walk the labyrinths, or view the impressive display of art. Indeed, Grace Cathedral is a unique and exciting destination for even the most ardent art and architecture enthusiasts.
Lewis Hobart originally designed Grace Cathedral in the French Gothic style. Work began on the structure in 1928, but was not completed until 1964. In addition to the elegant design that defines the vast interior space, the cathedral includes among its rich collection two stone labyrinths, Renaissance-style doors, a stunning collection of stained glass, and the profoundly moving AIDS Interfaith Chapel.
Labyrinths at Grace Cathedral
Labyrinths have been a part of many religious traditions throughout the ages. A labyrinth is a type of maze, but without the complex puzzle aspect normally found in a maze. Many consider a labyrinth to be a divine imprint, or archetype, that represents a symbolic form of pilgrimage that often leads to enlightenment or salvation. Grace Cathedral has two labyrinths, one inside and one out.
The inside labyrinth is made of sandstone and is accessible inside the main part of the cathedral during regular visiting hours, when no services or special events are in progress. Visitors should allow themselves at least 30 minutes to walk the inside labyrinth. The outdoor labyrinth, on the other hand, can be walked any time of the day or night. This labyrinth is made of terrazzo stone and sits just outside the main cathedral entry.
Ghiberti's Doors of Paradise
The original Doors of Paradise were designed by the Florentine sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti, who lived from 1378 to 1455. Created for the Baptistery of the Florence Cathedral, the doors are considered by many to be one of the greatest masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance. The same molds that were used for the original doors were used to make the Doors of Paradise at Grace Cathedral. And like the original doors, they tell the story of the Old and New Testaments.
AIDS Interfaith Chapel
Dedicated in 2000, the AIDS Interfaith Chapel was created as a memorial to the nearly 20,000 San Franciscans and others who have died as a result of AIDS. The congregation created this space as a place of healing, meditation, and remembrance. The chapel includes elements that represent many of the world's religions, including Buddhism, Jainism, Shinto, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and indigenous faiths. The chapel's focus is a triptych altarpiece by Keith Haring, completed just before he died from AIDS.
Stained Glass, Sculpture, and Much More
When visitors walk into Grace Cathedral, they're surrounded by a collection of stained glass windows that filter light through a variety of colors and images that softly illuminate the cathedral's mystical interior space. Not only is there the main rose window, which portrays St. Francis' poem "The Canticle of the Sun," but there are numerous other windows that range from telling the Gospels to depicting the 23rd Psalm to featuring Einstein's famous formula, E=mc2.
In addition to the amazing array of color glass, there are also the Aeolian-Skinner organ, the Bishop's Cathedra (bishop's chair), the Spanish Crucifix, and a sculpture of St. Francis by Beniamino Bufano. In the Chapel of Grace, visitors will find a set of windows designed by Charles J. Connick as well as a 14th-century altarpiece. In addition, the cathedral includes a set of murals that show the 1906 earthquake and fire that destroyed much of San Francisco.
In fact, there is so much to see at Grace Cathedral that one could linger for hours and not take in everything. Yet the cathedral is not just about architecture and art. It is a place that welcomes all people from all traditions who come in search of solace and replenishment. Indeed, the congregation seeks to embrace innovation and inclusion, to provide a place where a diverse community can come together to celebrate, to converse, to learn.
Even the person who comes to the cathedral only to study the intricate designs of the high altar or to listen to the cathedral's famed organ cannot help but feel the serenity and spirit that permeate this sacred space.
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