Cathedral Receives Landmarks Conservancy Preservation Award

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The full-scale restoration of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was honored as one of the winners of the 2016 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards April 28.

The awards, the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s highest honors for excellence in preservation, were presented during a ceremony at The Riverside Church in Manhattan.

“I’m thrilled that the Landmarks Conservancy noted the great work that our supporters have done in helping bring back the cathedral to the splendor it had on its opening back in 1879,” said Msgr. Robert Ritchie, rector at the cathedral.

“Looking toward the future, we hope St. Patrick’s will continue to be a great beacon to the people of New York City.”

The restoration work began in May 2012 and included exterior and interior work.

Every inch of the exterior from the base to the 330-foot high twin spires was cleaned and repaired. The interior plaster was cleaned, repaired and reattached to the wood lath. Testing and research revealed the historic light color palette and pattern of the painted plaster ceiling. Three shades of paint were applied to better recreate the effect of marble blocks.

The 3,700 panels from 75 stained glass windows were cleaned and repaired. Work included the cleaning and repair of the 9,200-pound bronze entry doors on Fifth Avenue, the wood doors, two organs and 350 pews, carved wood screens, and objects of historical and religious significance.

Architect James Renwick Jr. designed the Gothic Revival building.

“St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the most important and iconic landmarks in New York. The restoration touched every corner and every aspect of the cathedral and was an enormous job done extremely skillfully. St. Patrick’s matters to all New Yorkers, and the gleaming restoration is a wonderful gift to the city,” said Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, in an interview with CNY.

The project, originally to be completed by December 2015, was finished earlier than scheduled to accommodate the visit of Pope Francis. The Holy Father led Vespers in a packed cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015.