National Cathedral

Sunday, November 13-We attended worship services here today which was a special occasion on numerous accounts.  One was that this was the first time the church had been opened in 50 days due to the damage from the earthquake.  Secondly, it was the conecration of their new bishop, Reverend Mariann Budde and finally, we were interviewed by two tv stations leaving the service.  Sondra's excerpt of "it was a beautiful and moving service" made the story and was aired on Channel 7 news. We thought for sure they would aire Janae's commentary on the bishop's bright clothes and that this was the final resting place of Woodrow Wilson, her favorite president.

Sondra had attended a memorable Maundy Thursday service with her family and had wanted to share it with Mark, Janae and Stefan.  Today, was a beautiful service.  It was long and the children did well.  The choir was celestial and the Anthem, A Prayer by  music director Michael McCarthy was especially beautiful.  The new bishop's serman was moving and powerful.  "You are a unique expression of God's creative genius" as she challenged each one to live well the lives that were given to each of us. "Don't be embarressed by failures unless you don't grow something beautiful from them."  Jesus's ministry was filled with compassion, forgiveness and mercy but he also believed in God's judgement and he hated hypocrisy and self rightousness. A repeat listening of her serman online is a future must. Janae and I met her briefly after service and she mentioned that she had attended Air Academy H.S. in Colorado Springs.  We enjoyed exploring the church and all the chapels especially the children's chapel with the little chairs and alter.  We learned that President Wilson is the only one buried in Washington DC and that he is the only president to remain living in DC after his presidency.  He became actively involved in the cathedral congregation.The stained glass windows are beautiful and one that was given by NASA has a moon rock in it.  We saw Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan's resting place.

After the service, we relaxed and played in the Cathedral gardens and then attended the prelude portion of the Marine service later in the afternoon.   We wanted to hear the President's Own brass choir in such a beautiful venue.  Gabrieli never sounded so good.  Our enriching day ended with a delicious Ty meal followed by awecome cupcakes in Old Town with our dear friend Ani Barbarian, who plays clarinet now in the D.C. Air Force Band.

We made the  news!

Queen Elizabeth II and Gerald Ford in attendance for dedication of rose window

with Bishop Mariann

moon rock window

with President Wilson

Dancing in the courtyard

in the church gardens

 A few cathedral facts:
The dream of a national cathedral dates to the days of George Washington’s presidency. Memorable moments in the life of the Cathedral include President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1907 speech, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last sermon, and President Ronald Reagan’s State Funeral.

1907: The first stone

The longest-running construction project in Washington, D.C., (83 years) history officially began on September 29, 1907, when workmen laid the Cathedral’s foundation stone. President Theodore Roosevelt and the Bishop of London spoke to a crowd of ten thousand. The stone itself came from a field near Bethlehem and was set into a larger piece of American granite. On it was the inscription: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

1912–1969: History under construction

After Bethlehem Chapel opened for services in 1912, the Cathedral quickly became a place for services of national focus, even as it remained under construction.

• 1918 – President Woodrow Wilson attends official thanksgiving service for the end of the First World War.
• 1921 – President Warren G. Harding leads all 34 delegates to the Washington Conference on Limitation of Armaments to a special Cathedral service through the “Way of Peace” entrance by Bethlehem Chapel.
• 1928 – President Calvin Coolidge opens the General Convention of the Episcopal Church at the Cathedral.
• 1941 – Monthly services begin on behalf of a united people in a time of emergency; community memorial services are held at the Cathedral for World War II soldiers.
• 1956 – President Woodrow Wilson’s tomb in the Cathedral is dedicated.
• 1968 – The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., preaches his last Sunday sermon from the Canterbury Pulpit.
• 1969 – World leaders gather for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s State Funeral.

1970–1990: A crowning achievement

As construction finished, the Cathedral’s place in history was firmly established.

• 1976 – The Cathedral’s nave and west rose window were completed and dedicated in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and President Gerald Ford.
• 1982 – The Pilgrim Observation Gallery was completed and opened to the public.
• 1983 – The final phase of construction began with the setting of the first stone for the west towers.
• 1990 – The completion of the west towers marked the end of 83 years of construction.

2001–Present: A new century of leadership

In the new millennium, Washington National Cathedral continues to grow and change to fill the spiritual needs of the nation. The Cathedral was the site of President George W. Bush’s Inaugural Prayer Service and the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance service on September 14, 2001. In 2002, the Cathedral’s Christmas Day service marked its fiftieth nationwide telecast. Thousands mourned the deaths of presidents Ronald Wilson Reagan (2004) and Gerald Ford (2007).

In 2007, the Cathedral marked the start of its second century with a centennial celebration including festivals, reunions, exalted liturgy, concerts, lectures, and the inauguration of the new dean’s Sunday Forum.