The Chapels of the Seven Tongues To learn more about the seven chapels behind the high altar of the Cathedral, click on one below. St. Ansgar's Chapel St. Ansgar's Chapel is dedicated to those of Scandinavian descent. It is named after the ninth century archbishop Ansgar, a Frenchman who made many missionary tours to Denmark and Sweden. He eventually became known as "The Apostle of the North." Built in 1918, the chapel was designed by Henry Vaughan, who also designed the chapels of St. Boniface and St. James and was the original architect of Washington National Cathedral. The architecture is reminiscent of fourteenth century English Gothic style. St. Ansgar's has its own Aeolian-Skinner organ with 1,069 pipes. A section of the Columbarium is located in St. Ansgar's Chapel. (Return to the top of the page) (Return to the Virtual Tour) St. Boniface' Chapel St. Boniface' Chapel is dedicated to people of German decent and is the center for contemporary art exhibits at the Cathedral. St. Boniface was baptized "Winfrid" in seventh-century England and was an evangelist to Germany. Known as a doer of good, he was renamed Boniface (boni facio) by the pope. He was later slain and eventually gained his title of Apostle of Germany. The windows of St. Boniface Chapel, however, focus on British Saints and missionaries in all parts of the world. The architect was Henry Vaughan who also built St. Ansgar's and St. James' Chapels and was the original architect of Washington National Cathedral. The chapel was built in 1916. (Return to the top of the page) (Return to the Virtual Tour) St. Columba's Chapel St. Columba's chapel is dedicated to those of Celtic and English origins. Columba was born in Ireland and worked as a scholar, diplomat and preacher and used his famous monastery on the island of Iona as a base for his missionary work throughout Scotland, Ireland and northern England. The style is Norman/Romanesque with decorated cylindrical pillars that evoke Durham Cathedral. Gutzon Borglum (sculptor of Mt. Rushmore) designed the statuary that flanks the chapel's entrance. Heins and LaFarge, the original architects of the Cathedral, built the chapel in 1911. (Return to the top of the page) (Return to the Virtual Tour) St. Savior's Chapel St. Savior's Chapel is dedicated to Christian communities of the East and is appropriately located at the easternmost part of the Cathedral. St. Savior's (meaning Holy Savior) was the first chapel to be built and was completed in 1904 by Heins and Lafarge, the original architects of the Cathedral. Although the style of the chapel is English decorated Gothic, the icons and figures of Eastern doctors and saints in sculpture and stained glass evoke the East. On the south wall there is a shrine dedicated to African saints: St. Philip, St. George, St. Teklehaimanot, and St. Frumentius. The shrine represents the Cathedral's relationship with a rapidly growing segment of the Christian church. The Asian community is also represented in this chapel with two Buddhist temple cabinets, given to the Cathedral in 1930 by the King of Siam. The enormous window which represents the Transfiguration of Christ over the altar forms a backdrop for the high altar of the Cathedral and is seen from the extreme west end. A three panel altar piece created by the artist Keith Haring is displayed on the altar of the chapel. The entrance to the chapel is flanked by twenty carvings of angels, representing the heavenly choir, created by Gutzon Borglum who is best known for the presidential faces he carved at Mt. Rushmore. (Return to the top of the page) (Return to the Virtual Tour) St. Martin's Chapel The Chapel of St. Martin of Tours was designed with French immigrants in mind. It is the Cathedral's Chapel of Reservation. This means that it is set aside for private devotions and visitors are asked to enter it only for prayer. Also the Sacrament is reserved here in the aumbrey (a locked cupboard made for this purpose). This chapel is named for the famous Gallic bishop of the fourth century. According to legend, as a soldier, he encountered a naked beggar by the roadside on a winter day and with his own sword, rent his cloak in half, giving half to the beggar. He was then baptized and later became a bishop. Designed by Cram and Ferguson (who also designed the Nave of the Cathedral) in 1918, the chapel's style is thirteenth-century Gothic. The statuary for this chapel includes the figure of Joan of Arc. (Return to the top of the page) (Return to the Virtual Tour) St. Ambrose' Chapel St. Ambrose' Chapel is named for the celebrated Italian bishop, San Ambrogio, of the fourth century. In the early 1900's, the Italians entering the Unites States outnumbered all other ethnic immigrants, and the chapel was planned with this community in mind. According to tradition, one day while Ambrose was in his cradle, a swarm of bees settled on his mouth but did not harm him. It was an omen of future greatness, and he later was named Bishop of Milan. Designed in 1914 by Carrere and Hastings, the architects of the New York Public Library, St. Ambrose' Chapel is the only Cathedral chapel that is built in Renaissance style. (Return to the top of the page) (Return to the Virtual Tour) St. James' Chapel The Chapel of St. James is named after St. James the Apostle, the patron saint of Spain. The chapel highlights the contributions of Spain to the Christian tradition. Several famous writers, mystics and artists are found in the chapel's left window: Cervantes, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, El Greco, and others. With a seating capacity of 250 and its own Aeolian-Skinner organ of 857 pipes, it is often used for weddings, funerals, and small worship services and concerts. It was built in 1916 by Henry Vaughan who also built St. Ansgar and St. Boniface chapels and was the original architect of Washington National Cathedral. The chapel is the gift of Elizabeth Scriven Potter in loving memory of her husband, Henry Codman Potter, seventh Bishop of New York, whose tomb and recumbent effigy are housed in the chapel. (Return to the top of the page) (Return to the Virtual Tour) (Return to the Virtual Tour)
St. Ansgar's Chapel is dedicated to those of Scandinavian descent. It is named after the ninth century archbishop Ansgar, a Frenchman who made many missionary tours to Denmark and Sweden. He eventually became known as "The Apostle of the North." Built in 1918, the chapel was designed by Henry Vaughan, who also designed the chapels of St. Boniface and St. James and was the original architect of Washington National Cathedral. The architecture is reminiscent of fourteenth century English Gothic style. St. Ansgar's has its own Aeolian-Skinner organ with 1,069 pipes.
St. Boniface' Chapel is dedicated to people of German decent and is the center for contemporary art exhibits at the Cathedral. St. Boniface was baptized "Winfrid" in seventh-century England and was an evangelist to Germany. Known as a doer of good, he was renamed Boniface (boni facio) by the pope. He was later slain and eventually gained his title of Apostle of Germany. The windows of St. Boniface Chapel, however, focus on British Saints and missionaries in all parts of the world. The architect was Henry Vaughan who also built St. Ansgar's and St. James' Chapels and was the original architect of Washington National Cathedral. The chapel was built in 1916.
St. Columba's chapel is dedicated to those of Celtic and English origins. Columba was born in Ireland and worked as a scholar, diplomat and preacher and used his famous monastery on the island of Iona as a base for his missionary work throughout Scotland, Ireland and northern England.
St. Savior's Chapel is dedicated to Christian communities of the East and is appropriately located at the easternmost part of the Cathedral. St. Savior's (meaning Holy Savior) was the first chapel to be built and was completed in 1904 by Heins and Lafarge, the original architects of the Cathedral.
The Chapel of St. Martin of Tours was designed with French immigrants in mind. It is the Cathedral's Chapel of Reservation. This means that it is set aside for private devotions and visitors are asked to enter it only for prayer. Also the Sacrament is reserved here in the aumbrey (a locked cupboard made for this purpose). This chapel is named for the famous Gallic bishop of the fourth century. According to legend, as a soldier, he encountered a naked beggar by the roadside on a winter day and with his own sword, rent his cloak in half, giving half to the beggar. He was then baptized and later became a bishop. Designed by Cram and Ferguson (who also designed the Nave of the Cathedral) in 1918, the chapel's style is thirteenth-century Gothic. The statuary for this chapel includes the figure of Joan of Arc.
St. Ambrose' Chapel is named for the celebrated Italian bishop, San Ambrogio, of the fourth century. In the early 1900's, the Italians entering the Unites States outnumbered all other ethnic immigrants, and the chapel was planned with this community in mind. According to tradition, one day while Ambrose was in his cradle, a swarm of bees settled on his mouth but did not harm him. It was an omen of future greatness, and he later was named Bishop of Milan. Designed in 1914 by Carrere and Hastings, the architects of the New York Public Library, St. Ambrose' Chapel is the only Cathedral chapel that is built in Renaissance style.
The Chapel of St. James is named after St. James the Apostle, the patron saint of Spain. The chapel highlights the contributions of Spain to the Christian tradition. Several famous writers, mystics and artists are found in the chapel's left window: Cervantes, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, El Greco, and others. With a seating capacity of 250 and its own Aeolian-Skinner organ of 857 pipes, it is often used for weddings, funerals, and small worship services and concerts. It was built in 1916 by Henry Vaughan who also built St. Ansgar and St. Boniface chapels and was the original architect of Washington National Cathedral. The chapel is the gift of Elizabeth Scriven Potter in loving memory of her husband, Henry Codman Potter, seventh Bishop of New York, whose tomb and recumbent effigy are housed in the chapel.