| St. Joseph Cathedral | |
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St. Joseph Cathedral |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Hartford, Connecticut United States |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Archdiocese of Hartford |
| District | Archdiocese of Hartford |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Leadership | Henry J. Mansell |
| Website | St. Joseph Cathedral |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Eggers & Higgins |
| Architectural type | Post Modern |
| Architectural style | Postmodern |
| Completed | 1962 |
| Construction cost | Unknown |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,700 people |
| Length | 281 ft (85.64 m) |
The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut, United States, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. Dedicated on May 15, 1962, it stands on the site of the old cathedral destroyed by fire on December 31, 1956. Designed by Eggers & Higgins of New York, it rises 281 feet from the sidewalk. The cathedral is located on Farmington Ave. just outside of downtown Hartford across from the Aetna building.
The bell tower contains 12 carillon bells cast in the Holland by Petit & Fritsen. They range in weight from 225 pounds up to 3850 pounds. The cathedral itself is made of concrete with the outside covered in Alabama limestone. The cathedral is noted for its large expanse of spectacular stained glass windows crafted in Paris, and the ceramic tile mural behind the altar depicting "Christ in Glory," which is the largest in the world. The capacity of the cathedral is about 1700 people. There is also a lower church below the upper church.
There are two main chapels on the side of the church. One contains the tabernacle and altar. It contains a mural of Jesus and his disciples. The chapel on the left has a mural depicting the holy family. Other small chapels are made of mosaic and contains kneelers for visitors.
The pipe organ is one of the largest in Connecticut containing more than 8,000 pipes. The organ is designed by the Austin Organ Company based in Hartford It has four manuals and is 137 ranks. The organ has been used for many concerts.