Cathedral Church of the Nativity
The Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a breathtaking structure that was completed in the late nineteenth century. Church services are held every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday with additional services in the Sayre Chapel on weekdays (Nativity Church). The church is one of Bethlehem’s finest focal points. The astounding architectural design and beautiful craftsmanship are only a few of the Church’s great qualities.
The original construction of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity began in 1863 and the first church service was held on Christmas day in 1864 (Masonry Preservation). The effects of acid rain, natural weathering, and improper repairs resulted in severe deterioration of the building (Masonry Preservation). In the late nineteenth century, the church was reconstructed by the industrialist families of the time and is the same building that stands today (Masonry Preservation).
One of the most notable characteristics of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity is the beautiful Rose window placed above the entrance doors. The Rose window, or what is sometimes known as the Catherine window, is found above the West Door of the Cathedral. The Rose window is a characteristic of the Gothic architectural style of churches. The Cathedral’s circular Rose window resembles a flower with petals and the segments are divided by tracery and vertical pieces of stones known as mullions. By definition, tracery is the stone or wooden bars in a window, screen, or panel that support the structure and often create an elaborate decorative pattern (Stokstad 606). From the exterior view, the Rose window appears to be tan in color and plain, however on the inside; the window shows beautiful shades of blue, purple, red and yellow stained glass. The colors of the Rose window as seen inside are similar to the colors of the stained glass in Chartres Cathedral (Stokstad 280). The stained glass of the Rose window can be seen when sitting in the sanctuary in the Cathedral Church. There is also a stained glass window above the Rose window that adds sunlight into the sanctuary.
In addition to the Rose window, the church boasts breathtaking stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Bible and scenes of the birth of Jesus Christ. One of the stained glass windows shows the three wise men bringing gifts to Jesus. Another section depicts Mary and Joseph celebrating the miraculous birth with Jesus lying in the manger in the stable. The stained glass windows allow light into the sanctuary and serve as focal points. Stained glass became popular in the Gothic period of the twelfth century and many churches were built with stained glass windows, sumptuous altars, sculpture, crosses, and reliquaries (Stokstad 274).
The nave of the church is open and shows the wood work, craftsmanship and architectural design of the builders. The nave is the central aisle leading to the altar (Stokstad 604). In particular, the nave of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity draws one’s attention upward to the carefully constructed barrel vaulted wooden ceiling. The ceiling is similar to the design of the Nave of Durham Cathedral’s ceiling; however, the Church of the Nativity’s ceiling is not ribbed groin vaulted as the Nave of Durham’s ceiling is (Stokstad 263). Each nave arch is supported by the piers. The round piers in the Cathedral give the illusion of holding up and supporting the beautiful vaults that lead upward to the ceiling. In addition, the circular stone piers are intricately carved and decorated on top where the end of the arch meets the pier. The beautifully carved piers and vaults reminded me of the nave in the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence (Stokstad 320). Brunelleschi, the architect for the Church of San Lorenzo, combined old and new elements and incorporated innovative ideas of classical motifs to create this new Renaissance church (Stokstad 320).
In the Church of Mary Magdalene, the builders strove to bring light into the church, and the builders of the Church of the Nativity appeared to try to do the same (Stokstad 262). The Cathedral Church of the Nativity’s nave directs one’s attention to the altar instead of upward to the ceiling.
Crosses and symbols were also a large part of Gothic architecture. The Cathedral Church of the Nativity has crosses on the prominent peaks of the roof. Perhaps the most noticeable cross on the exterior of the Cathedral Church is the one located on the point of the roof over the West Door and Rose window. The strategic placement of this cross is most similar to the placement of the cross above the main doors on the Cathedral of Reims in France (Stokstad 284). On the interior of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, the altar is almost overflowing with crosses, angels and religious symbols that make the altar appear to be lavishly adorned. The nave and altar of the Cathedral resembles the nave and altar in the Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, England (Stokstad 292).
The building and architectural design certainly contributed to my religious experience. The moment I entered the sanctuary, my focus was directed immediately to the glowing altar that was ornamented with religious symbols and eye-catching colors. As I walked down the nave and sat in the wooden pew, I found myself gazing up at the vaulted ceiling and the stone piers. When the organist began to play the organ, the sanctuary seemed to chime with music that bounced from the stained glass windows to the stone piers and vaulted ceilings. The design of the church captivated me and made the message of the Reverend feel so powerful and spiritual. His words seemed to bounce from wall to wall and fill the place with religious thoughts and messages unlike any other religious experience I have had.
Understanding the historical implications absolutely changed my reactions to the setting. From the time I stepped out of the car, I was looking for the Rose window and stained glass attributes. When I entered, I was looking for the transept and nave and even looking up at the ceiling to see what type of vaults were used by the builders. The Cathedral Church reminded me of the pictures of the Gothic and Roman cathedrals shown in Marilyn Stokstad’s Art textbook. Numerous times I found myself comparing this cathedral to the cathedrals of prior times. Without the knowledge of art history, I would never have even noticed the Rose window or its significant meaning. The stained glass windows were not just colored glass anymore, but rather were pictures and scenes of religious events as depicted in the Bible and portrayed on the windows.
The thoughts and feelings that I would have shared with those attending church in a similar place during an earlier time would be the appreciation for the great skill and craftsmanship of the masons who built the church. So much time and effort, as well as conciseness and precision, was put into building a church of this design. The design of the church made the religious experience very touching and moving. I left the building feeling cleansed by God and like a faithful disciple who was inspired to spread the Word of God to the nonbelievers.
A cathedral of this design is very appropriate for us today so that we do not forget about history. The Cathedral Church of the Nativity is very similar to any cathedral that could be found in England or France during the Gothic period. The vaulted ceilings and piers are a constant reminder to people of the great builders of the Gothic time period. The Rose window and stained glass windows add so much beauty and light to the sanctuary as they appear to pour in sunlight. We must never forget the origin of art and cathedrals such as the Cathedral Church of the Nativity are constant reminders.
Art is not just that painting hanging on the wall, or the statue of Mary in the front yard. Art is the reliquary in a great cathedral in Europe and the Rose window found above the West Door of a church. Art is the round stone pier in the church and the flying buttress that supports the thrust of the vaults of the building (Stokstad 601). The Cathedral of the Nativity is just one of the breathtaking architectural structures originating from the Gothic period.
Works Cited
“Completed Projects.” Masonrypreservation.com. Web. 22 March 2010.
“Services.” Nativitychurch.org. 2009. Web. 22 March 2010.
Stokstad, Mary. “Art: A Brief History.” Third edition. Pearson Education. 2007. 22
March 2010. Pages 262-206.
