Charleston, S.C., Mar 14, 2010 / 14:00 pm
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist added another landmark to the Holy City on March 8 when its new steeple and cross were hoisted into place. After the 12:05 p.m. Mass, hundreds of people gathered on the Cathedral lawn to watch as Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone blessed the new addition from a scissor lift before it was raised skyward.
He thanked everyone who helped make the historic event possible. He said the cross was a sign of the Christian presence in the community, a presence that is found in the people, but it would serve as a reminder to all.
Buttresses were lifted into place the next day and finishing touches will be completed by the end of the week, according to Rueben Solar of Glenn Keyes Architects, the firm handling the design.
The new steeple is made mostly of copper and has three major parts. The belfry is comprised of four arches that create what Solar described as a lantern; the steeple looks like a lattice work frame atop which is the gold-gilded Celtic cross.