Tuesday
11th December
Our
itinerary today was a trip to visit the Episcopal Cathedral of Saints Peter and
Paul in Tenleytown.
As an aside this trip in Washington DC has
evolved to visiting the lesser known,
but no less important icons and features of the city. On our previous trip of 14 days we spent 11
full days visiting the Smithsonian museums (there are about 19 of them), so
this one is everything but the Smithsonian(well maybe just one or two at the
end of the trip!!)
To further digress, these museums were the result of a donation to the USA by James
Smithson, a British scientist who wanted an establishment in his name known as Smithsonian
Institution, for the “increase and diffusion of
knowledge.”
Back to the Cathedral.
It may seem we visit many, however there ARE many to be visited
throughout the world and I am always awed by stained glass as well as
architecture and attention to detail on pulpits and altars. This is known as
the sixth largest Cathedral in the world and the 2nd largest in the
USA (the largest in USA is in New York). This Cathedral has about 14 separate
chapels, along with the main and high altars.
There were two windows which stood out for me. The first was a large round one known as the West
Rose Window which had abstract themes about the creation story.
A statue of the Christ Child welcomes visitors to the
Children’s Chapel which is built to the scale of a six year old child.
The kneelers feature baby animals and the
organ is also made to this same scale.
They are still looking for a six year old organist to fill that
position!!
We ascended the tower (by lift!) which took us to the top
floor from which a commanding view of Washington DC can be seen. This is
actually the highest point in all of DC as the Cathedral sits atop Mount Saint
Alban. While there afternoon tea is served - and mightily delicious too as the finger food is all prepared on site by some dedicated ladies.
