Cathedral of Saint Thomas More (Arlington, Virginia)

Cathedral of Saint Thomas More
Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Arlington
38°52′14.4″N 77°6′12.2″W / 38.870667°N 77.103389°W / 38.870667; -77.103389
Location	Arlington, Virginia
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Membership	2,548 (2009)
Website	cathedralstm.org
History
Founded	1938
Dedication	St. Thomas More
Architecture
Architectural type	Modern
Completed	1961
Administration
Diocese	Arlington
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Bishop Paul S. Loverde,
Vicar(s)	Rev. Matthew J DeForest
Rector	Rev. Robert J. Rippy
Deacon(s)	Deacon Samuel M. Taub (Retired)

The Cathedral of Saint Thomas More located at 3901 Cathedral Lane is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington Virginia and the seat of Bishop Paul S. Loverde. The Rev. Robert J. Rippy has been the Rector since 2005. The Cathedral also has a Parochial Vicar, two resident priests, Director of Religious Education, Youth Minister and Music & Liturgy Coordinator.

Cathedral interior

The parish was established in 1938 and named for St. Thomas More. Until the sanctuary was completed in 1950, masses were held in what is now the school gymnasium. The current church was constructed in 1961 above the 1950 sanctuary. It was elevated to a cathedral when the northern counties of Virginia split from the Diocese of Richmond to form the Diocese of Arlington and the first bishop was installed on August 13, 1974.^[1] The parish currently consists of 2,500 members.^[2]

The cathedral is a modern design and is constructed with a basilica floorplan. The exterior is red brick with three doors at the front. The doors are in shallow porticos formed by barrel arches that extend to the roof and contain a stained glass window above each door. The sanctuary houses a three-manual M.P. Moeller organ with 28 ranks of pipes installed in 1961.^[3] The organ was redesigned and expanded to 53 ranks in 1980 by organ builder Robert Wyant. Wyant served as cathedral organist from 1964, after two years as assistant organist, until his retirement in 1998.^[4]

In 1944, the parish established St. Thomas More Cathedral School.^[5] It currently offers grade levels pre-kindergarten through eighth^[6] and has approximately 400 students.^[1] The school was operated by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who established a permanent community at St. Thomas More August 25, 1945. Due to declining numbers, the order withdrew from the parish in June 1998.^[7]

See also

• List of cathedrals in the United States

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dave Borowski (1 June 2011). "In the bishop's church". Arlington Catholic Herald (Diocese of Arlington). Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
2. ↑ "About The Cathedral". Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
3. ↑ "The Cathedral of St. Thomas More Music Ministries". Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
4. ↑ Clare MacDonnell (1 January 1998). "Cathedral Organist Retires After 35 Years". Arlington Catholic Herald (Diocese of Arlington). Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
5. ↑ "Alumni: Mission". St. Thomas More School. Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
6. ↑ "Curriculum". St. Thomas More School. Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
7. ↑ Michael F. Flach (1 January 1997). "Immaculate Heart Sisters to Leave Cathedral School". Arlington Catholic Herald (Diocese of Arlington). Retrieved 2011-12-12. 

External links

• Official site

Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington Churches and parishes Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Thomas More Parishes St. Mary's Church, Fairfax Station St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, Fredericksburg Abbey Holy Cross Abbey Catholic education Higher education Catholic Distance University Christendom College Institute for the Psychological Sciences Marymount University High schools Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School Bishop Ireton High School John Paul the Great Catholic High School Oakcrest School Paul VI Catholic High School Ordinaries Past Thomas Jerome Welsh John Richard Keating Present Paul Loverde Catholicism Portal

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