National Cathedral damaged in earthquake

[onehandle]

Source: CNN



One of the spires, left, of the National Cathedral is seen missing following an earthquake in the Washington

Washington’s National Cathedral sustained "significant damage" during Tuesday’s 5.8 magnitude Virginia earthquake, including to its dramatic central tower and in its flying buttresses, the church said. Called the "Gloria in Excelsis,” the cathedral’s central tower is the highest point in the nation’s capital, rising to a greater height than even the Washington Monument.

No one was injured in the quake, the church said in a statement. There have been no major injuries immediately reported in areas affected by the quake, which struck Tuesday afternoon about 40 miles northwest of Richmond.

The tower sustained damage on three of its four pinnacles, or corner spiers, the church said in a statement. Cracks have appeared in some of flying buttresses, though the buttresses supporting the central tower appear to be sound, the church said in a statement. Stonemasons and structural engineers were assessing building damage on Tuesday evening.

An Episcopal church, the Washington National Cathedral considers itself a spiritual home for the nation. It is the traditional site for official presidential inauguration services and for funeral and memorial services for 10 of the 14 presidents of the United States since 1893.






Read more: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/23/national-cathedral-damaged-in-earthquake/?iref=allsearch

[Critters2]

1. It always bugs me that this denominational church calls itself the National Cathedral

and "a spiritual home for the nation". It's just a really big Episcopal Cathedral, nothing more. It isn't a government facility, and has no official relationship to the government.


Just irritates me for some reason.

[SpiralHawk]

3. Well, on the bright side - they have a wicked badass organ

sit in the church when some skilled organist is playing Bach or someone, and you are going to be TRANSPORTED to a higher realm of consciousness.

[Orrex]

7. Heh heh. You said badass organ.

[Ready4Change]

13. Facepalm.

Don't get me wrong. Funny as all get out. But... facepalm.

[Devil_Fish]

64. Ya and Flying Buttress. Hehehe I AM CORNHOLIO!!!! I need some TP NT.

[kwassa]

52. You have a picture of the wrong badass organ.

Here is the right one. Your picture is of a Danish national cathedral.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HhVGrCGT1uE/S_yWQZD9DII/AAAAAAAAI5Q/TpRiWqWDu7E/s400/pipe+organ.jpg

[customerserviceguy]

4. True

But better the Episcopalians rather than some hard-core fundie denomination.

[Dollface]

40. That was my thought

[tabasco]

53. Ya' got that right.

Episcopalians are pretty liberal.

[kestrel91316]

9. I find it hard to get offended by Episcopalians. Especially when

fundie whackjobs of Baptist/Pentecostal and Mormon persuasion abound in the US.

[Critters2]

10. Yeah, but there are other churches in DC to the left of Episcopalians,

if that's your criterion. Why shouldn't one of the UCC or UU churches just start calling themselves the National Cathedral. No official body declared this. This church just calls itself by this name. We don't actually have a National Cathedral.

[Demeter]

21. UU's are far too modest

How many of you have even HEARD of Unitarian-Universalism? Now THAT'S modesty!

Of course, it was the Unitarians and the Universalists who were a driving force in the Enlightenment and the Revolution....but that's so 18th century...

[KoKo]

15. As an Episcopalian..(fallen away over War Issues) watch "God's Gonna Cut You Down"../Johnny Cash!

Johnny Cash God's Gonna Cut You Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qa2d9RoTYQ

[Samantha]

11. It is of HUGE historical significance to Washington, DC

Some of the stone is over 100 years old and was hand cut. The services that have been there are of historical relevance. It is a one of a kind place.

I sit here in College Park writing this response to you. My home was rocked by the earthquake today. I made it through very calmly and remained so until I heard the news of damage downtown. When the National Cathedral was shown, I started to cry. I only tell you this to help emphasize the historical relevance and importance of this wonderful place to this town. There are three schools there. Al Gore attended one of them as a young man. My son-in-law teaches there today.

In these economic hard times, I realized immediately how costly it would be to repair that damage, and I wondered if the funds could be raised.

Additionally, many people in DC, just as in New York, thought a terrorist attack had once again occurred. I had been trying this afternoon to reach someone at the Pentagon, and could not get through. I saw on the Breaking News about an hour ago, the Pentagon, as well as the State Department have been evacuated. Right after that, my friend called to let me know he was okay. He immediately picked up his personal stuff and evacuated when the building stated to rock. He thought the place was under attack again as happened on 911.

This is not a insignificant event here. It has both physical and emotional consequences.

I just can't tell you how important the National Cathedral is, but perhaps I have given you a glimmer.

Regards,


Sam

[KoKo]

22. Even Andrea Mitchell...wife of Jewish Alan Greenspan lauded Washington Cathedral

today on her all news broadcast as she sat "tanned and toned" delivering "her version of the news" and lauding that the "Monuments to the Founding Fathers" were undamaged like Washinton's Home in Mount Vernon ...but then she waxed historical about the National Cathedral...which is Episcopal. It was amazing to watch her.

[Samantha]

51. I am Protestant but the National Cathedral as well as St. Matthews

impress me like nothing else does. If you happened to have watched Tim Russert's funeral, that is where it was held. I believe he too attended school there. I think the name of that school is St. Alban's.

St. Matthews is a beautiful stunning church that used to be, and perhaps still is, open 24 hours a day. There was a time when the homeless slept on the stairs, and no one at the church objected. That to me is the epitome of religion, the true caring for the least among us.

I worked next door to this church for some time and one day decided to go in. The inside of the building immediately inspires reverence and awe. I signed my name in the vistors' book, and sat in the back pew. The stained glass within is stunning. Although I was virtually alone within the massive building, I did not feel lonely, but inspired -- inspired at the loving work that must have gone into putting a place like that together. Soon after I learned that the famous picture we have all seen of John F. Kennedy, Jr., as a young child saluting his father's casket was him standing on the steps of that same church. Haunting it was to me to learn this, but I loved it more knowing that.

Washington as I have often said at this site is a unique place, and if you ever visit here, I hope you do not miss The National Cathedral, St. Matthews, and the Iron Gate Inn. The latter I will tell you about another time.

http://www.stmatthewscathedral.org/

Sam

[Gormy Cuss]

18. The Episcopal church calls it the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

Blame Congress for the "National" moniker.


eta: That small visible damage maybe nothing compared to the structural cracks. Unreinforced masonry buildings don't fare well in big quakes.

[KatyaR]

50. I have a keychain of the Cathedra of Saints Peter and Paul hanging in my car.

I bought it the only time I've ever been to DC when I was 17 years old, back in 1974. We toured the Cathedral at Evensong on a Sunday evening, and for a country girl who had never been anywhere, it was absolutely tranformational. That keychain's hung in every car I've ever owned. I wouldn't drive without it, not because it has religous significance, but because it's important to me.

[Chan790]

23. Oh drive around DC...

every major religion does this, every protestant faith too. They just did it first and most prominently.

It's not nearly as ostentatious as The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception...because Catholics have to have the longest names for everything. I went to college in the shadow of that thing. "America's Catholic Church". The largest church in the Americas and top-10 in the world by size.






My personal favorite, this mural is known among CUA students as "The Pissed-Off Jesus". Confession is taken in this sept of the church so you get to look at this while waiting to be chastised and forgiven.

But really, for all the time I spend busting on DC...go see the Shrine...even if you're not religious. It's arguably the most impressive visual display of art in DC that most people are unaware of.

[KoKo]

25. That's very impressive...Thanks for this post and for that view..and your personal experience

:thumbsup:

[hedgehog]

61. Time to roll out this chestnut:

The day the Basilica was dedicated, a young seminarian was strolling the grounds. Suddenly, he was surrounded by angels, and before him stood the Virgin Mary borne up on a cloud. Stunned, he fell to his knees and begged "Mother, what would you ask of me?" The Virgin looked down at him sadly, sighed and answered:

"My son, I would like to have a beautiful church built on this site!"

[onehandle]

63. Visited once. It's beautiful church. nt

[wordpix]

26. don't be irritated--the Cathedral is a national treasure that draws people throughout the world

It's a marvel of architecture and a neighborhood treasure that's a great place to visit or live near.

[CBHagman]

31. After going to Herblock's memorial there and also...

...a Martin Luther King Day service for peace, I have more affection than ever for the National Cathedral. I don't attend services there generally, though I might visit to view the building or the grounds, or perhaps go to a concert.

Oh, and for the uninitiated, here's Herblock:



And his work:

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/

[hedgehog]

60. I used to think that myself, but i think the Episcopalians have made a good

faith effort to open this venue to everyone.

[Ineeda]

2. We'll have to wait for the engineering report of course, but

damage to the pinnacles, which are strictly ornamental, can hardly be called 'significant.'

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Look at the center, high... either it is light or there is a crack

but yes, we will need to wait for the report (and the inevitable x-rays)

[Yo_Mama]

6. Damage to the buttresses is not

They are there to provide support.

[Ineeda]

8. Reading disfunction?

I said the pinnacles are ornamental, not the buttresses. Therefore waiting for engineering report.

[muriel_volestrangler]

28. The OP says "Cracks have appeared in some of flying buttresses"

You can work out where the reading dysfunction may be.

[Ineeda]

48. Exactly why I said the engineering must be evaluated.

Again, I commented on the pinnacles as that is the known damage and the pinnacles are irrelevant to the integrity of the structure. Sheesh.

[KoKo]

16. The "Butresses" are VANITY...Jesus warned us against VANITY...Earth Angels Warn against Vanity...

Even Atheists and Agnostics know about the DANGERS OF VANITY...

This is something that many of us can agree on...and should not fight over. VANITY will be VANQUISHED.

Johnny Cash God's Gonna Cut You Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qa2d9RoTYQ

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. Buttresses are structural

They support the walls by pushing against the outward thrust from the weight of the roof. If you're building purely in stone, that's important, since you can't build horizontal stone joists under tension like you can with wood (and wood rots, so traditionally, churches, designed to last, don't use it structurally). They could put steel joists in to hold the tops of the walls together, I suppose. If that's what you're calling 'vanity' - why didn't they just build a warehouse? - I suppose you have a point.

[KoKo]

32. They are Spiritual...in the SPIRES that fell down first. The Butresses are Foundational

which says...the whole thing is falling apart. I think Washington Cathedral...is hugely Symbolic......because it's Episcopal but mostly "non-denominational" like Andrea Mitchell ...just love the place. So...the Symbolism of the Place...is what I was trying trying to post about.

[Ready4Change]

14. Eh, just replace 'me with some onion domes.

They'll look fine. Who'd have an problems with some nice onion domes?

[xocet]

12. Why does god hate churches? n/t

[KoKo]

24. Perhaps "God" whoever whatever he or she is...is getting quite ANGRY...

worrying about the destruction of "his/her" creation?

Look...this is much "WOO WOO" but, I do always wonder about the "interesting" conflicts going on in our society today. Whether it's "Gaia (Our EARTH) throwing off those who've defiled her...or some "God" of some kind that is kindly and horrified at what we've done to defile our homes like we are using EARTH as a litter box for our wasteful greed...it's still interesting to see the "Forces of Nature...STRIKE BACK."

Although I realize many DU'ers see this as "spiritual Clap Trap" and will trash and laugh and yuck.

There's definitely SOMETHING SPIRITUAL...and out of our SPHERES of UNDERSTAND...that's going on here ...in our world ...these days. My 2Cents...for nothing what it's worth..

[xocet]

42. I don't know. Nobody knows. To me, the likelihood of a personal god seems extremely low, but idk.

The structure of the universe to the extent that that a definite structure exists is in my mind equivalent to whatever 'god' is, so I do not believe in any sort of praiseworthy being - just a set of constraints that mankind needs to understand and use to its advantage as much as can be done. Constraints, however, can be both detrimental and beneficial: it is best in my opinion that humanity try to understand what is going on to the extent that this can be done by the human mind, so that the detrimental aspect of the constraints be avoided and the beneficial aspect of the constraints be utilized.

So, you could be right. I don't know. However, I do know that I strongly dislike the kind of religion that blinds people to things that humanity needs to understand and destroys the potential of those who would like to understand the universe.

[KoKo]

47. Agree...but I tend to go with a more mystical...even though I understand totally what you say.

Doesn't mean we differ in agreeing that something is VERY WRONG...that we need to work to get into a better balance, though. If we could work together.

[xocet]

56. Working together initially requires both sides to acknowledge that no one possesses absolute truth.

The hard part is then to agree on what constitutes a common ground so that common facts may be agreed upon. At least, this is my opinion.

I am willing to say and readily do say that I do not possess any sort of absolute truth, but I feel strongly that fundamentally empirical methods are required to establish the facts upon which my worldview is founded. How does this compare to your formation of your worldview vis-a-vis mysticism?

[snooper2]

59. I know, there is no such thing as a "spirit" or "jesabus"

Nope, doesn't exist...sorry...

Most humans, 95% or so can't grasp the size of the universe. how much matter exists, how much energy exists, how long a million, a billion years really is. That's why they make up spirituality.

You can have the satisfaction of knowing that the matter that makes up your skin, organs, brain, everything will be recycled. Some of the matter in your heart will in 8 billion years be a speck of dust in a supernova.

Even the toxins in Three Mile Island will end up as possibly as a new moon in some new galaxy someday :)

[maheanuu]

17. How did Rosie's Faire?

Let that gnarly old bastard floating round and round on a cloud (supposedly) take care of his own place. I worry more about Rosies Whorehouse and Handjob Parlor just down the street a piece.. Are all the girls ok, after all, we got to take care of the workin ladies and the Madam. Those Repigs need to get away and calm their nerves with a little pick me up at Rosies after such a terrifying day... Just think of all the buckets of Santorum needed for taking care of the majority and sargent major the Orangeman.....

[Demeter]

19. The Atheist In Me Says, "Right on, Mother Nature!"

Then I put on my pious American mask....

[KoKo]

20. I can imagine why you say what you say....and don't offer criticism.....

to you for what you say and yet.......

[Dappleganger]

27. Why do you hate beautiful architecture?

What a shame, this is an historically important and stunning structure and can be appreciated as such, no spirituality required. I may find the Catholic church to be disgusting, yet am in awe of the beauty of the Cathedral of Notre Dame and Santa Maria del Fiore.

Art is for all of us.

[Demeter]

34. Did I say such a thing? I don't think so.

[Dappleganger]

38. Well you have edited your post so you can now say anything

to not make yourself look so poorly.

[Demeter]

57. I edit because my fingers can't spell

[Odin2005]

36. I want to see the old Gothic cathedrals in Europe someday.

I admire them as the first great artistic works of Western Civilization and have a "reach for the infinite" quality that is distinctively Western. The arches and flying buttresses seem to be a re-creation of the European Forest as stone.

[Dappleganger]

39. Same here, that is my dream...

your description of them is intriguing!

[xocet]

44. Here is a good cathedral to start with:

http://www.koelner-dom.de/rundgang.html

It is in the immediate vicinity of the main train station in Cologne. Just step out of the main train station and look to the left. The 150 m spires cannot be missed.

[Hosnon]

29. Amazing architecture is something very valuable given to us by religion.

It might be the only thing, and it might be a net negative, but my appreciation for religious architecture is firm.

[Demeter]

33. Architecture, music, sculpture, painting

yes, the Catholic Church did a wonderful job monopolizing and subsidizing all the arts save theater and dance...because those competed with the rituals...

[KoKo]

45. Still there's beauty in the Art and for some the rituals. We can lose much...but I understand

that many these days feel it's all corrupt and don't cry over the loss of it. Yet some of us do miss the arts...music and spritualism...even though some was misguided and some went OTT to evil purposes like Pedophile Priests and such.

[Odin2005]

35. I'm an Atheist and I think that is a HORRIBLE thing to say.

Just because I'm not a believer doesn't mean I can't think it's a beautiful building. I love Gothic architecture.

[Demeter]

37. MENDING WALL Robert Frost

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'.
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me~
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors."

[KoKo]

46. nice read...many thanks.

[CBHagman]

43. You rejoice in others' misfortune?

And you want other people to know that about you?

[OhioChick]

41. Hopefully it can be repaired...

It's a beautiful church.

[brooklynite]

49. ...without a Dollar of Government Funding...

After all, there's a Debt crisis.

[Tx4obama]

54. Here's a link with a BUNCH of up-close PHOTOS

Nine photos: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/08/what-really-happened-national-cathedral-quake/41644/

[boppers]

55. Darth Vader survived.

I shit you not, our national cathedral has Darth Vader on it.

http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml

(He's just as real as all the other gods, saints, demons, whatever, so why not?)

[Demeter]

58. I rest my case.

[bikebloke]

62. I can see the cathedral out my window.

When the leaves are down. Otherwise, I can see Russia.;)

I'm a heathen commie, but I do appreciate the art. That includes Islamic architecture. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul is a work of art.

[IamK]

65. earthquake photo... devastation