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Washington National Cathedral – Faith and Politics Intersect

Washington National Cathedral – Faith and Politics Intersect

Last updated on: January 19, 2025 at 5:02 pm by Alice H. Murray

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Washington National Cathedral – Faith and Politics Intersect 2025-01-19T17:02:17-05:00 Alice H. Murray

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View from above of flag-draped coffin before congregation at state funeral for Pres. Gerald Ford in Washington National Cathedral

State funeral for President Gerald Ford in Washington National Cathedral [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Faith and politics seem like an oil and water combination, two things that just don’t mix. But these spheres sometimes come together, such as at state funerals. On January 9th politicians gathered in a religious venue to honor and mourn the loss of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. The location? Washington National Cathedral, where faith and politics intersect.

History of the National Cathedral

The idea of having a church home for Americans in their nation’s capital arose early in this country’s history. In fact, back in 1792 the original plans of Pierre L’Enfant, the designer of the capital city, included a “great church for national purposes.” Nevertheless, Alexander Hamilton eliminated a church from the plans, and one did not appear in the working plan for building the capital city. Thus, many years passed before such a structure came into existence.

Not until 1893 did movement occur towards erecting this venue. In that year, a congressional charter authorized a cathedral to be dedicated to charity, education, and religion. Even then, construction did not begin until some fourteen years later when President Theodore Roosevelt appeared for the laying of the cornerstone. Completion of the construction took decades, 83 years to be exact. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush watched the final stone’s placement on top of the cathedral’s towers.

President Theodore Roosevelt presided over the laying of the cornerstone of the structure where faith and politics intersect [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Cathedral’s Location and Details

Mount Alban, the highest location in Washington, D.C., serves as the site for the Neo-Gothic style National Cathedral. The structure stands at Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues in the city’s northwest quadrant. T he second largest church building in the United States, it is listed on The National Register of Historic Places. Numbers tell the tale of the cathedral’s size. Specifically, the cross-shaped building extends some 530 feet in length and it can seat about 4,000.

Washington National Cathedral claims membership in the Episcopal Church. It’s official name is the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. Despite use of the word “national” in its familiar names, The National Cathedral or Washington National Cathedral, though, it receives no direct support from the federal government.

Exterior view of the front of the Washington National Cathedral against a blue sky with white clouds

Washington National Cathedral’s style is Neo-Gothic [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Why Have a National Church Where Faith and Politics Intersect?

Designer Pierre L’Enfant’s envisioned his church for national purposes as nondenominational and non-sectarian, making it equally open to all. Washington National Cathedral fulfills this purpose today, expressly representing on its website that it serves as “a house of prayer for all people.”

The cathedral has been described as “national house of prayer” and a “spiritual home for the nation.” It achieved this status by serving that purpose and by religious and political leaders accepting it as such. This acceptance means the cathedral offers a sacred space for citizens to gather during nationally significant moments.

Planners of the national church envisioned it as an American Westminster Abbey, a place to bring citizens of the nation together in a united purpose. National purposes could include public prayer, funeral orations, and thanksgiving. During World War II, the National Cathedral held monthly prayer services for the country in “a time of emergency.”

Events at The National Cathedral Where Faith and Politics Intersect

State funerals are the most visible events at The National Cathedral where faith and politics intersect. The recent state funeral for 39th US President Jimmy Carter brought the spheres together in early January. All living presidents attended, providing an undercurrent of drama between political rivals. Besides the one for Jimmy Carter, state funerals took place at the National Cathedral for Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush. The cathedral also served as the location for memorial services for Presidents Harding, Taft, Coolidge, Truman, and Nixon.

Memorial services at the “national house of prayer” involving political figures aren’t limited to presidents, though. For example, the funeral for former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor took place at Washington National Cathedral in December 2023. Civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. preached his last sermon at the cathedral in March 1968 just four days prior to his assassination. His memorial service was conducted there within the week.

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. preached his last sermon at Washington National Cathedral [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Prayer Services At The National Cathedral

Faith and politics can intersect at prayer services, too. Presidential prayer services occurred in conjunction with the inaugurations of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Donald Trump (first inauguration).

While some people may object to faith and politics merging, can anyone object to a service offering prayer for our nation? The National Cathedral is scheduled to host an interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation on January 21. The service, to be livestreamed, will offer prayers of thanksgiving for our country’s democracy and will also seek God’s guidance for the future.

Let Faith and Politics Intersect at The National Cathedral

A strong nation deserves a national house of prayer open to all where citizens can join together in unity in significant times. Thankfully, the Washington National Cathedral has provides such a venue and allows the opportunity for prayers of thanksgiving and guidance as well as mourning for national leaders. Faith and politics intersect at Washington National Cathedral in a positive way, even if they do not always do so elsewhere.

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About Alice H Murray

After 35 years as a Florida adoption attorney, Alice H. Murray now pursues a different path as Operations Manager for End Game Press. With a passion for writing, she is constantly creating with words. Her work includes contributions to several Short And Sweet books, The Upper Room, Chicken Soup For The Soul, Abba’s Lessons (from CrossRiver Media), and the Northwest Florida Literary Review. Alice is a regular contributor to GO!, a quarterly Christian magazine in the Florida Panhandle, and she has three devotions a month published online by Dynamic Women in Missions. Her devotions have also appeared in compilation devotionals such as Ordinary People Extraordinary God (July 2023) and Guideposts’ Pray A Word A Day, Vol. 2 (June 2023) and pray a word for Hope (September 2023). Alice’s first book, The Secret of Chimneys, an annotated Agatha Christie mystery, was released in April 2023. She has an adoption devotional scheduled for publication in October 2025. On a weekly basis, Alice posts on her blog about current events with a humorous point of view at aliceinwonderingland.wordpress.com. You can read more about the author here.

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