Cathedral crawl leads to places usually not seen

Overhead pipes line the space beneath old wooden flooring that was hewn by hand, and nailed together with stubby, square nails and wooden pegs common to construction in the 1840s.

Naked light bulbs, strung together and neatly suspended from heavy-duty extension cords, illuminate the way, turning the underground maze into a bright chamber. The soil underfoot is dusty; and although it rises slightly when stirred by sneakered feet, it does not filter into the heavy, dank air.

Underbelly

"Lots of people helped in the construction of this building," said Thomas Prindle, the Cathedral's director of development and public events. "We know for a fact though that many of those that dug this foundation were Irish immigrants, and they did the work for nothing."

Evidence of their digging still remains in the dirt and rock base that holds the brick supports of the gigantic building overhead.

According to Mr. Prindle, some artifacts have been found in the crawlspace over the past several years, as construction workers, engineers and others involved in the building's restoration opened the area up and cleaned out years of accumulated debris.

Crypt

Today, its underground corridors run like catacombs beneath the structure that sits at the corners of Eagle Street and Madison Avenue, corridors that remain silent sentinels to what must have been a back-breaking labor of love performed by thousands.

In a basement room adjacent to the crawlspace, directly under the Cathedral's altar area, is the bishops' crypt. It is a whitewashed chamber that houses the remains of six bishops of the Albany Diocese, each marked with an identifying plaque and permanently sealed behind concrete and brick.

"We hope to someday turn this section of the cathedral into an interpretive center that can be visited and utilized by the larger community," Mr. Prindle explained. "We feel it is important for the Diocese, and for the citizens of the City of Albany and New York State."

Hidden places

"In the beginning, the Cathedral altar area was a bit smaller than it is today," Mr. Prindle explained. Standing behind the current altar just in front of the organ, he indicated that the original western wall of the Cathedral stopped where he stood.

"In the 1890s, Bishop Francis McNeirny added both sacristies," he indicated, pointing to the large rooms to the right and left of the main altar area. "He also enlarged the sanctuary from 28 feet to the present 55 x 36 feet."

The room to the right is called the Priest's Vestry, where clergy dress for liturgies. The room has several wooden closets and Victorian-style dressers that hold altar linens, stoles, chasubles, albs and other vestments. An assortment of candles and candleholders, crucifixes, monstrances and other items are arranged throughout the room.

A window depicting the four evangelists -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- oversees a wooden counter area. The window is a quiet reminder that this is not merely a dressing room.

Bishop's room

"We think that this may have been a small chapel that the bishops used for daily Mass, as well as the room where they robed," Mr. Prindle explained.

The walls are wainscoted in quartered oak on their lower half; the top walls are decorated with gold fleur-de-lis, a throwback to the Gothic style of the architecture. The oak mantel piece is elaborately carved with the coats-of-arms of Popes Pius IX and Leo XIII as well as those of Cardinal John McCloskey, Albany's first bishop, and Bishop McNierny.

Also in this room is Bishop Thomas Burke's kneeler. He was the fourth bishop of Albany. Here also is a reliquary belonging to Bishop McCloskey.

More rooms

A passageway known as the Ambulatory allows a person to walk from the former Altar Boy's Vestry to the Priest's Vestry behind the main altar area without being observed by the congregation. Currently, the windows behind the altar, at the nave of the church, are covered with tarps on the building's outside, making the area dark.

"Normally, the western sun hits those windows with its rays in the afternoon, lighting up the altar area," Mr. Prindle explained. "Then the light is brilliant."

Going up

"There is music here for virtually any Catholic celebration," Mr. Prindle advised. In addition to the music, the Cathedral's original nativity creche is stored on the large landing area. Imported from Europe, it was donated to the Cathedral by the Altar Rosary Society in 1873.

"It has been used every single year since," Mr. Prindle said.

Uses now and then

"Again, we think this may also have been utilized as a chapel at some time or other," Mr. Prindle said.

He pointed out the raised area at the end of the room where an altar might have once stood. The room is currently used as a classroom for the Cathedral parish religious education students. Large bookcases line one wall, and there are several tables, with chairs and toys scattered around the room.

Lofty thoughts

The organ was placed in the Cathedral in 1852, and further improved in 1880 and again in 1886. It was completely electrified in 1947.

The Cathedral clock was placed in the North Tower in 1862. It originally kept time in the First Dutch Church of Albany, located on Pearl Street and was given to the Cathedral when that church was restored. The clock was made in England in 1801.

The choir loft area also provides a "bird's-eye-view" of the grandiosity of the Cathedral's interior, particularly the neo-Gothic design evident on its upper walls and ceiling.

Tolls for thee

The South Tower was begun in 1888. There is a six-foot gilded cross on its top.

The Cathedral was originally lit with 1,124 gas lights, but the new sanctuary, completed in 1892, had electricity.

The Cathedral has been the site of many historic events, including the consecration of seven bishops and a visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is also the site of the first ever service of forgiveness between Christians and Jews, held on Palm Sunday, 1986.

Architect

"He later went on to design others, but this cathedral was his first. Because of that, it will always be a living testament to his architectural genius and the vision of the people of the Albany Diocese."

(Some information for this article was obtained from "History of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception," published in 1927 on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.)

(11-14-02) [[In-content Ad]]