ARCHITECTURE

Spokane architect Harold Whitehouse designed the cathedral in the English Gothic style with some French influence. The structure is solid masonry built with sandstone quarried in Tacoma and Boise, while the intricate carvings were fashioned from Indiana limestone. 

Like many medieval and Renaissance churches, the building takes the form of a cross. The long axis spans 173 feet from the great west doors to the high altar’s east wall. The arms of the cross are formed by the north and south transepts, with the central altar at the crossing. The gothic arches and the triangular vaulting encourage us to orient ourselves toward God.

At the east end of the cathedral stands the sanctuary, with the high altar as its centerpiece. Blue glass and delicate lacework tracery surround the great Resurrection cross rising behind the altar. Above, a sculpture of Christ the King is flanked by the four evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Below, a large eagle representing St. John the Evangelist surmounts a row of symbols honoring each of the twelve disciples.

Above the west entrance is the great rose window. On the opposite end, high above the altar, the trefoil window symbolizes the Holy Trinity. In the nave, the windows depict heroes and heroines from the Old Testament (south side) and New Testament (north side). The north transept windows contain imagery from the Book of Revelation. In the south transept, the Te Deum window is so called because it shows angels and saints gathered to praise God. The chancel windows depict the life of Jesus. The windows were created by Charles J. Connick and Associates of Boston and Willet Stained Glass Studio of Philadelphia.

For more detail on the architecture of the cathedral, see our Cathedral Architecture brochure.