What is a Cathedral?

Essentially, a cathedral is simply a building, a place where the real Church (the people of God) gathers throughout the week to serve and worship God and minister to one another.

By design, cathedrals hold many roles.  The cathedral is a spiritual home for many. It is a gathering place for the diocese, and in some cases (like here) there are the home of the diocesan offices.

Indeed, by definition, a cathedral is the seat of the bishop of a diocese. It is the place where, physically, the bishop's seat or throne (a "cathedra") is located.   And as it is the bishop's seat,  both figuratively and literally, a cathedral becomes in a real sense, the home parish of the entire diocese. 

The vocation of any cathedral is to draw people together for the mission we share in Christ.  Part of that mission is the building up of relationships and seeking ways to engage our larger world.

​In days of old, many churches and cathedrals had red-painted doors.  This was meant to symbolize the fact that these sacred spaces were sanctuaries, safe spaces, places of refuge to any and all.  While our doors currently are yellow, we do intend that St. Andrew's be a safe place for all.