The Restoration of Old St. Patrick’s – a Status Report

(Above) A wide angle view of the restored sanctuary.

 

UPDATE: This post now reflects additional information on the restoration from the pastor of Old St. Patrick’s, Msgr. Sakano.

Let me give you a  brief visual status report on the still-incomplete restoration of old St.Patrick’s cathedral. A picture in the New York Times had raised the specter of a brilliant, whitewashed interior. As you can see below, these fears have not been realized. The interior has been repainted but in a restrained cream or beige color. It is definitely brighter, however, than the olive drab of the prior color scheme. Msgr. Sakano informs us  that this new color scheme is derived from the remains of the original decoration that had been discovered.

(Below) The church prior to restoration.

(Above) The view towards the rear. The magnificent organ still seems to be under repair.

(above) The unrestored sanctuary; (below) as restored. The tabernacle has been returned to the center of the sanctuary and the painting of the Resurrection has disappeared. This resembles the pre-Vatican II condition. See our prior report showing the pre-restoration state of the cathedral including some pictures from pre-conciliar times.

Frank Mason, the noted Catholic artist and champion of art preservation, created the image of the Resurrection in 1970 for the sanctuary when St. Patrick’s was “restored” after the Council. The painting is now deposited  in the crypt where it will be installed permanently.

(Below) The prior location of the tabernacle (which depicts the original appearance of the facade of this church.) off to the side.

(Above) As restored – the crucifix is now suspended above the sanctuary and the painting of the statues has been restored.  When restoration work started it was discovered that the statues’ original paint had been largely preserved under the 1970 – era paint job.  With some touching up, that is what we see today. (Below) the prior condition.

(Above and below) The figures of the reredos as restored to their original colors. Msgr Sakano notes that for some reason there are only 10 apostles….

(above) A window pre-restoration; (below) restored.

(Above) I believe this image of a South American devotion used to reside in a chapel outside the main church; it is now in the sanctuary. (below) If I am not mistaken, some statues have migrated from the ground level of the nave or sanctuary and now, repainted, stand high above on the reredos.