Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The significance of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York, built in 1848-52, lies partly in the fact that it was the second cathedral built in the state. The first, St. Patrick's on Mott Street in New York City, still stands but has lost its original interior. Architecturally, the Cathedral is an excellent example of American Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture, following in the Puginesque mode. It is the work of Patrick Keeley, who has been credited with some 500 churches. Although not a major architect of his day, Keeley was an attentive follower and interpreter. The Cathedral is an American interpretation of the Puginesque ideal church as illustrated in True Principles (1841) and in St. George's, Southwark, built in 1841 and designed by Augustus Welby Pugin. In
architecture, the style has its roots in such structures as Richard Upjohn's Trinity Church (1840-46) and James Renwick's Grace Church (begun 1843), both in New York City. Both churches were doubtless known to Keeley since he lived in Brooklyn. In fact, he seems to have combined in the Cathedral the general wall formulae of Trinity and Grace Church (but with somewhat smaller clerestory elevation) with the Twin tower concept of Renwick's Calvary Church (finished 1847). The twin tower vogue began about 1844, and the Albany Cathedral appears to be a part of this movement.

By 1846 Richard Upjohn had embraced Pugin's new concept: that of the parish church, whereas Renwick still followed the earlier Puginesque formulae of more formal architecture whose exterior forms reveal interior spaces as at Calvary Church. Keeley's Albany Cathedral of 1848-52 owes more to Renwick in this respect than Upjohn. In a drawing of Renwick's Calvary Church, the entire structure has a more vertical orientation in comparison with the flatter Puginesque ideal, and even the roof is sharply slanted. Keeley, on the other hand, has used Pugin's old roof line and attached to it two slightly plump towers.

During the eighteenth century in America, the Roman Catholic church had formed four dioceses, one of which encompassed New York State. In 1817 when the Erie Canal was begun, many Irish Catholics came to the Albany area and settled here. In the mid-1830s the potato famine swept Ireland sending the Irish to the new world. During this period, the industrial development of America took place. The Harmony Manufacturing Company in Albany County was founded in 1836, providing work for the laboring classes.

St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic Church in Albany. Its parish once encompassed the entire Mohawk Valley from Albany to Syracuse. St. Peter's (in Troy) was begun in 1822, St. John's was founded in 1837, and St. Joseph's in 1842. By 1848, the Roman Catholic Church had become sufficiently powerful in upstate New York, that it seemed reasonable to form a separate diocese. This was done and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built.

The overall effect of the design of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is one of solid strength, which serves as a focal point for Madison Avenue, provides a striking contrast to its new neighbor, Empire State Plaza, and exemplifies the strength and resources of the Roman Catholic Church in Albany by the mid-nineteenth century. Albany has retained its Roman Catholic heritage through the years and there are today approximately 425,000 Catholics in the diocese, representing roughly a third of the entire population of the area.