Church Mouse

The National Cathedral, tucked into the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., ranks among my favorite churches. And not for the reasons you might think.

I love it for its quirks.

The sixth largest cathedral in the world, it embodies many aspects of traditional Christian church design; gothic splendor, stained glass windows, flying buttresses, a massive pulpit, and an impressive set of carillons. 

But the Cathedral also has some unexpected nuances. A lunar rock collected by the crew of Apollo 11 is embedded in a stained glass window dedicated to scientists and technicians. The remains of Matthew Shepard are buried inside the church, finally safe to rest in peace. Many of the gargoyles (112 in total) were crafted with tongue firmly planted in cheek, resulting in creations like the Darth Vader gargoyle, the rattlesnake gargoyle, and the yuppie gargoyle, replete with briefcase in hand. The  interior boasts an assortment of decidedly secular sculptures that include Helen Keller, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Albert Schweitzer, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Dr. Martin Luther King.

Cathedrals were not built solely for worship, but with an eye toward inspiration....

"Not even the most secular among us can fail to be uplifted by Christianity's architectural legacy - the great cathedrals. These immense and glorious buildings were erected in an era of constricted horizons, both in time and in space." – Martin Rees