89 Ridge Street, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The fifth-largest cathedral in North America, a massive French Gothic structure in Newark whose construction spanned over fifty years and whose stained glass collection is among the finest in the Western Hemisphere.
Newark's cathedral took from 1898 to 1954 to build, surviving two world wars, a depression, and constant funding struggles. The result is one of the largest and most impressive churches in the Americas — 365 feet long, with twin towers rising 232 feet above the city. The style is French Gothic, executed in granite, with a level of detail that rewards close looking: carved saints in the tympanum, gargoyles on the buttresses, and bronze doors weighing several tons each. Inside, over 200 stained glass windows fill the nave and clerestory with colored light. Many were made by Munich studios in the early twentieth century and depict the full sweep of salvation history from Genesis to Revelation. The nave seats over 2,000 people and the vaulted ceiling rises 100 feet overhead. The reredos behind the high altar is a carved stone screen of extraordinary intricacy. The cathedral was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 1995. It sits on a rise in the Branch Brook Park neighborhood, and its towers are visible from across the city.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Newark
Style: French Gothic Revival
What to See
Begin outside to appreciate the scale — the twin towers and the carved tympanum above the main entrance set the tone. The bronze doors are worth examining before you enter. Inside, the stained glass is the main event: over 200 windows telling Biblical stories with a richness of color and detail that takes multiple visits to absorb. The Munich-made windows in the clerestory are among the finest in the country. The reredos behind the high altar is a carved stone masterwork. The side chapels each have distinct programs of art and devotion. The organ, one of the largest in New Jersey, is heard to best effect during liturgies.
Pilgrim Notes
The cathedral is on Ridge Street in Newark, adjacent to Branch Brook Park, which is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring. Newark is easily reached by train from Manhattan — the Broad Street station is a short bus ride from the cathedral. Parking is available on the grounds. The cathedral is open daily and Mass is offered regularly. Guided tours are available by appointment. The nearby Branch Brook Park cherry blossom display, which actually has more cherry trees than Washington, D.C., makes a spring visit especially worthwhile.