At first glance, it might seem to be one of the great Gothic cathedrals of northern France. In reality, the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart stands a dozen or so kilometres from Manhattan. The basilica in Newark took a total of 55 years to build and was opened to the faithful in 1954. French Neo-Gothic architecture, huge rose windows, stone portals and colourful stained-glass windows combine to create one of the most impressive examples of religious architecture in the USA.
The idea for the cathedral originated in the 19th century
The origins of the cathedral date back to 1859. It was then that James Roosevelt Bayley, the first Bishop of Newark, proposed the construction of a stately cathedral for the rapidly expanding diocese. The city was growing, industry was flourishing, and successive waves of immigrants arriving to fulfil their ‘American dream’ were swelling the ranks of the Catholic community. In 1870, the architect Jeremiah O’Rourke, together with Father George Hobart Doane, travelled to Europe to study the continent’s most important cathedrals. A year later, the diocese purchased a plot of land on the city’s highest hill, near Branch Brook Park. From this vantage point, one could see the Newark valley, Staten Island and even New York. However, construction did not begin until 1898. The foundation stone for the new cathedral was laid on 11 June 1899. O’Rourke’s original design drew on the Anglo-Irish Gothic style, but in 1913 the diocese completely revised the existing concept. The new models were Notre-Dame in Paris and Chartres Cathedral. The design increasingly took on the characteristics of French Gothic architecture. O’Rourke was removed from the project in 1910; subsequently, Isaac E. Ditmars worked on the design, followed by Paul C. Reilly in the final phase.
The Newark Basilica took 55 years to build and cost a fortune
The construction of such a magnificent and grand cathedral proved to be far more complicated than the initial plans had suggested. For example, whilst construction was already underway, dangerous shifts in load-bearing forces were detected, so all 24 pillars were removed, the ground was reinforced and levelled, and 22 of them were then reinstalled. Two pillars were removed, allowing the transept to be widened. Changes were also made to the towers – they were made smaller and the plans for tall spires were abandoned. By 1918, the main part of the building was sufficiently advanced for the steel roof and copper spire to be installed. During the 1920s, work focused primarily on the interior. Heating ducts, the crypt, stone walls and vaults were constructed. The original cost of the project was estimated at around one million dollars – ultimately, the construction cost 18 million, funded mainly by donations and collections.
French Gothic in American stone
Today, the cathedral is approximately 111 metres long and 50 metres wide, with a floor area exceeding 4,000 square metres. The twin towers, meanwhile, each measure 71 metres. However, the most recognisable feature of the entire Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is its granite façade. The stone used in its construction was sourced from various parts of the USA, and its carving was modelled on French designs. The tall portals, pointed arches, tracery, canopies and rose windows are reminiscent of the magnificent medieval cathedrals of France. The enormous rose window above the main entrance is particularly impressive. It is approximately 11 metres in diameter and is considered the largest window of its kind in a Catholic church in the Western Hemisphere. The builders used primarily American materials, whilst specialist finishing elements were imported from Europe. The French basilica took 55 years to build – all thanks to American resources, European techniques and the work of craftsmen who had travelled from all corners of the world.
The Newark Basilica is a showcase of European craftsmanship
Once through the bronze doors made in Rome, the interior is even more impressive than the façades. Wood, stone and marble have been used here, and artists from several countries worked on the furnishings. The pews and some of the woodwork are made from Appalachian oak. The altars feature Italian marbles, including Botticino at the high altar and Carrara marble in the Lady Chapel. The stained-glass windows, meanwhile, were crafted in Munich. The vivid blues, reds and purples lend the interior a mystical depth. Each of the five chapels surrounding the chancel is associated with a different group of the faithful. St Patrick’s Chapel commemorates Catholics from the British Isles, St Lucia Filippini’s Chapel the Italian and Portuguese communities, St Boniface represents German-speaking Catholics, St Stanislaus Kostka represents Poles, Slovaks and Hungarians, and St Anne represents the Latin American, African and Asian communities. Behind the high altar stands the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace, featuring Carrara marble and three crystal chandeliers. Five former bishops of Newark are buried in the crypt beneath the cathedral.
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart today
A prominent feature of the interior is the enormous organ, built between 1955 and 1956 by the Schantz Organ Company of Ohio. It is the largest church organ in the whole of New Jersey. The basilica in Newark also has 14 bells cast in Padua and inspected by Vatican experts prior to installation. The cathedral was consecrated on 19 October 1954. In 1974, it was designated a New Jersey State Historic Landmark, and two years later it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1995, it was visited by Pope John Paul II, who granted it the status of a minor basilica. The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart remains the principal church of the Archdiocese of Newark and the seat of the archbishop. The most important archdiocesan celebrations are held here, including the Chrism Mass, the Easter Triduum, and priestly and diaconal ordinations.
After dark, the vast cathedral, its two towers and colourful stained-glass windows are more reminiscent of Europe than of industrial Newark. This is precisely what makes it so extraordinary. It is not a medieval cathedral transported across the Atlantic, but an American realisation of a European tradition. It was built at a time when the United States was forging its own architectural identity, and Newark’s Catholic community sought to create a church that would rival the great cathedrals of the Old Continent.
Source: newarkbasilica.org, sacredarchitecture.org
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