“Science and Technology” stained glass window containing a moon rock at the National Cathedral. Photo by Cory Hancock.
Walking up to the towering immensity that is the National Cathedral is an overwhelming and spiritual experience, regardless of religious background. The Cathedral itself is a picturesque castle derived straight from a vampire movie, locked in the timelessness of the gothic architectural era. However, while 418,000 people visit the Cathedral yearly, according to www.cathedral.org, it is surprising to find that many of them don’t know about the modern marvels and secular themes incorporated throughout the design and decoration of the church itself.
When first walking into the National Cathedral, there is a plethora of visual stimuli that is nearly impossible to unpack all at once. From the pointed arches that extend towards the heavens, to the beautifully embroidered tapestries and carefully crafted altar pieces, it’s not uncommon to wander the Cathedral completely mesmerized, sometimes overlooking one of the church’s most fascinating modern marvels that honors more than just religion.
One of the most compelling pieces of secular decor in the Cathedral is the Space Window. In 1974, the Nixon presidential administration authorized the gift of a lunar rock from astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins. This extraordinary piece was given to the Cathedral to commemorate the five year anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon. The window depicts outer space, including the Earth and the flight path of Apollo 11; a nod towards the technology and science of the 20th century. However, many people have been left confused as to how a piece of the moon encased in an airtight nitrogen chamber honors the holiness of the Cathedral.
When asked why an item with such a secular connotation was made a part of the Natural Cathedral, volunteer museum docent, Tony Domenico, stated,
“We are a national cathedral and…we accept secular influences throughout the Cathedral because we’re accepting all kinds of different people.
Another visitor, Victoria Lewis, is an avid member of the Christian faith with an all-encompassing passion for science. She believes that science and religion are best viewed side by side, working together to enforce one another. She says,
“I think science is just the explanation of how God created everything, how everything works, and we’ve only just developed [the] tools to see that now.”
Since the National Cathedral receives no funding from the federal government or the Episcopal church, they are free to incorporate aspects of any religion they please. Visitors of the Cathedral that are followers of the Christian faith believe the moon rock is a unique piece of the galaxy created by their God and are free to honor it as such.
In addition to a deeper, more metaphysical answer, the lunar rock exhibition provides entertainment for those visiting the Cathedral that aren’t necessarily religious, as it is nearly impossible to be bored by a piece of outer space. Visitors who come to the Cathedral to experience the history as opposed to religion are able to find several secular points of interest that merely provide entertainment.
One of the major tourist focal points of the Cathedral is the Darth Vader grotesque on top of the building. The grotesque was added to the building in the 1980s as the result of a design competition held by the Cathedral during a period of renovation and reconstruction. As the Star Wars franchise continues to remain popular in the 21st century, the hilarity of the secular decoration draws many people to the church annually.
Another non-religious focus point of the Cathedral is the Canterbury pulpit. Carved in England as a gift to America, the pulpit showcases carvings of the men credited with translating the Bible. Notice the pulpit does not credit Christianity directly, rather, the men responsible for making the teachings of the Christian faith available to everyone. Another side of the pulpit contains a carving of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, a completely secular image with immense historical meaning.
While these pieces are fascinating and beautifully blend into the design of the Cathedral, they certainly aren’t the most religious decorations the church has on display. This provides a sort of reprieve, and sometimes comedic relief, to people that come to the Cathedral looking to experience culture, both inside and outside of religious confines. The Cathedral does a brilliant job of tying in the major, sacred aspects of Christianity as well as giving viewers a healthy dose of modernity.