What is the difference??

I always thought that a cathedral had to be this big, auditorium-like building that cost a lot of money to build and held thousands and thousands of people.

But, today I passed by this new place that recently opened up that used to be a Wal-Mart, then was turned into a strip mall with a Payless and a little clothing store in it. It's now opened up as new *Cathedral* with a big sign that reads, "Sinners are Welcome"!!!

It appears to be a Baptist denomination ... and I always thought a Cathedral was a Catholic-related building.

Apparently I'm confused. So ... what, then, is the real difference??

quote:

Originally posted by EbonyRose:
What is the difference??

I always thought that a cathedral had to be this big, auditorium-like building that cost a lot of money to build and held thousands and thousands of people.

But, today I passed by this new place that recently opened up that used to be a Wal-Mart, then was turned into a strip mall with a Payless and a little clothing store in it. It's now opened up as new *Cathedral* with a big sign that reads, "Sinners are Welcome"!!!

It appears to be a Baptist denomination ... and I always thought a Cathedral was a Catholic-related building.

Apparently I'm confused. So ... what, then, is the real difference??

Here is a quick response.

Historically, the cathedral was a Catholic church in an area where the bishop has oversight (i.e., the diocese). Literally, it refers to the location of the episcopal throne. The throne is the sign of the bishop's authority. When he makes a statement where he is explicitly invoking his authority, it is referred to as the bishop speaking ex cathedra.

Technically, the size of the building does not matter, but overtime, the often became quite grand and elaborate structures. Also, tradition usually obtains that the buildings footprint be in the shape of the cross with the altar stationed at the intersection. But there are many cathedrals that do not follow such a design plan.

In the U.S. a true cathedral would be associated with the apostolic succession of clergy claiming authority back to Jesus. The largest of such groups are the Roman Catholics, but there are other Catholic denominations, often referred to as Old Order Catholic, that claim apostolic authority. This is also the case with the Anglican tradition, which in the US is most associated with the Episcopal Church. The National Cathedral in DC is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, as is the largest cathedral in the world, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.

Over the last several decades, however, you have some churches of other denominations referring to their edifice as a cathedral. They do not hold to any of the standards above. They can be located anywhere, and they may or may not be presided over by a bishop. For example, you have Schuller in California who built his church and decided to call it the Crystal Cathedral. For him and others like him, the term cathedral has a certain sense of majesty and authority associated with it, authority which they wish to partake.

Oh okay!! Well see ... I was kinda sort right about at least half of it!

I remember just before I left L.A. (or maybe it was right after ) the West Angeles Church led by Pastor Blake broke ground on new Cathedral they were putting right in the middle of the middle-class Black neighborhood that I was living in!! It was a Church of God in Christ denomination ... which I always associated with Baptist. (Am I wrong about that? )

Anyway, I had always like Pastor Blake and the West Angeles Church was one that I truly respected for the awesome work they did both in and outside of the community. They had 3 or 4 different building on Crenshaw out of which they ran different ministries. They helped a lot of kids go to college. It was the only church I ever really considered joining ... though I was never a regular visitor.

The church was originally smack dab in the middle of a commercial block of stores and strip malls. When I heard that he was planning to call the new building a Cathedral, I was like ... can he really do that?? Or is he just making that up? But, I figured, for what he was doing, he could call it anything he wanted to ... he had earned it and deserved it!

But ... because I had always known a Cathedral to be a "Catholic thing", I thought maybe he was embellishing just a little bit!

Anyway, thanks (as usual) for clearing that up for me, kresge!