Stories from the First Cathedral 43

If one has not taken a tour of the First Cathedral, one would not know the Cathedral Campus rests on a city block. The block is shared with Wells Fargo Bank and their parking lot. The Cathedral Campus is made up of three buildings: The Cathedral (1869), The Guild House (1896), and the Cloister (2005). All of the buildings have been joined together by the construction of the Cloister. Many decades Cathedral congregations wanted to connect the Guild House with the Cathedral. The only thing joining the two buildings was a series of pipes. The furnace in the Guild House heated the Cathedral through these underground pipes which traveled across the lot to the current heating plant depending on the year and what system of heating was used. I remember when I was ordained to the priesthood in January of 1988, the temperature was about 10 degrees below zero. After the service my ordination guests made a hurried walk to the Guild House for the reception. Hot coffee was the most popular item at my reception!

The Original Guild House
"Funds to build the George Broyton Whipple Guild House were raised in 1893. The cost is given as $10,000. The Romanesque style of the building, then in vogue, was chosen. (The lines of the building have been compared to the work of Henry H Richardson, the famous Boston architect). It is a heavy, solid looking structure constructed of pressed brick and brownish-pink sandstone. Originally it had a slate roof. It was opened "informally" on November 20, 1894, but official "Benediction" could not take place until January 8, 1896, when everything was paid for." (The First Cathedral by the Venerable Ben Scott and Mr Robert Neslund 1987)

The Cathedral building has remained consistent as a place of worship, with some structural changes depending on the priety of liturgical practices throughout the decades. The Guild House has a long history of different functions and occupants for over 120 years. This is a very interesting story about how the Guild house has evolved with the theme of a building whose purpose is centered on social events. We will explore those stories in the future.