Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
The Neo-Gothic facade of Grace Cathedral. Photo by Jochen Wolters.
East end of Grace Cathedral. Photo by Jim Grisanzio.
Views of the grand interior and labyrinth. Photos by Niall Battson.
Interior lit by stained glass windows. Photo by Niall Battson.
The indoor labyrinth in Grace Cathedral. Photo by Giovanni.
Rose window. Photo by Terry T.
Organ and choir of Grace Cathedral. Photo by Michael Paul Nielsen.
The Gates of Paradise door. Photo by Michael Huang.
Grace Cathedral is a soaring neo-Gothic structure that is the seat of the Episcopal Archdiocese of San Francisco.
History
Built on the site of the Crocker mansion, Grace Cathedral was begun in 1928 and completed in 1964 to a design by architect Lewis P. Hobart.
What to See
Grace Cathedral appears to be made of stone but is in fact constructed of reinforced concrete that has been beaten to achieve a stone-like effect.
One of the cathedral's most interesting features are its stained-glass windows, particularly those by the French Loire studios and Charles Counick, depicting such modern figures as Thurgood Marshall, Robert Frost, and Albert Einstein.
Don't miss the 35-foot-wide indoor labyrinth on a large, purplish rug, a replica of the 13th-century stone maze on the floor of Chartres Cathedral. All are encouraged to walk the ¼-mile-long labyrinth, a ritual based on the tradition of meditative walking. There's also a terrazzo outdoor labyrinth on the church's north side.
Also of note are the replicas of Ghiberti's bronze Doors of Paradise at the east end (the originals are on the baptistery in Florence); the religious murals completed in the 1940s by Polish artist John de Rosen; and the 44-bell carillon. A black-and-bronze stone sculpture of St. Francis by Beniamino Bufano greets you as you enter.
Along with its magical ambience, Grace Cathedral lifts spirits with services, musical performances, and its weekly Forum, where guests lead discussions about spirituality in modern times.
The most memorable times to visit the cathedral are during Thursday-night evensong (5:15) and during special holiday programs.
| Names: | Grace Cathedral |
| Type of site: | Cathedral |
| Faith: | Episcopalian |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | Built 1928-1964 |
| Architecture: | Neo-Gothic |
| Architect: | Lewis P. Hobart |
| Material: | Concrete |
| Location: | Nob Hill, Taylor and Jones Sts, San Francisco, California, USA |
| Address: | 1100 California St, San Francisco, CA |
| Coordinates: | 37.791744° N, 122.413595° W |
| Phone: | 415/749-6300 |
| Website: | www.gracecathedral.org |
| Hours: | Weekdays 7-5:45, weekends 7-5. |
| Cost: | Free |
| Services: | Forum: Sun 9:30-10:30am except summer and major holidays |
Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Grace Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our San Francisco Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Official Website of Grace Cathedral
- Frommer's San Francisco
- Fodor's San Francisco
