Stories from the First Cathedral 2

Whose idea was it to build the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour? Let's turn to the book The First Cathedral, which I mentioned in my article last week, for the answer to this question.

"On April 18, 1862, Mrs Breck died. Though Whipple does not explain exactly why, this was the specific occasion for his decision to build the Cathedral. In his funeral sermon for Mrs. Breck, he refers to this idea and quotes the verse, "Work while the day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work." Both the funeral sermon and his address at the laying of the cornerstone would be printed and circulated widely. On Easter Day, the congregation of the Good Shepherd contributed over $600 to the cause, and eventually Dr Breck would raise over $11,000 for the building fund. As the Bishop said, "It was while my heart was sad for my brother's [Breck's] loss...that the thought came to build the [Cathedral] even in troublesome times. I believe God put that thought there...and it grew to be a plan..."

July 16, 1862, must have been a poignant day for Dr Breck. Bishop Whipple laid the cornerstone of the Bishop's Church, but as he himself said, "This world did not take much notice." Even the Central Republican thought it was nothing more than the Coxe of Western New York -- "The Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour." The building was designed in a rather plain Gothic style, apparently by Renwick & Co. of New York City. Stephen Congdon was the chief supervising architect, and Robert C Wiley of St Paul was the local supervising architect. C.N. Daniels of Faribault was the supervisor of the exterior stone work. The stone for the Cathedral was native blue limestone from Milan Ponds' Fall Creek quarry east of Faribault. Edward Goodman, the chief stonecutter, had recently come to Faribault from Yarmouth, England."

We need to give credit to the strong and faithful women who gave leadership and support to their husbands in the early history of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota. Marie Breck and Cornelia Whipple were the wives that sparked the evangelical zeal in their husbands! If Marie Breck had lived longer she most likely would have done many important tasks to help her husband James Lloyd Beck. Cornelia Whipple was probably responsible for Henry B whipple coming to Christianity and pushed him to study for the priesthood. Cornelia died in 1890. Before her death she created St Mary's School for young women and many more monumental ministries in Faribault, MN. St Mary's is still in operation on the Shattuck-St Mary's campus. One can take a tour of the Maple Lawn Cemetery in Faribault, MN and view Cornelia's grave which reads: "She did what she could."

Cornelia did what she could and made many more contributions to the beginning of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. Dr Breck and Bishop Whipple were very blessed to have wives who were true saints!