St. Matthew's Cathedral

History of the Cathedral

When the Reverend Ethelbert Talbot was elected Bishop of the newly-created Missionary District of Wyoming and Idaho in 1887, he chose Laramie as his sea city. It was under his leadership that the construction of St. Matthew’s Cathedral was started in 1892. The main building was finished in 1896 and the towers were added in 1916, given by Edward Ivinson in memory of his wife Jane, a founder of St. Matthew’s Parish in 1868. Ever since then, the Cathedral has been a central part of the Episcopal community in Wyoming and the West.

St. Matthew’s Cathedral has several outstanding features that make it unique in the area. Not only is it the highest Episcopal Cathedral in the United States at 7,165 feet in elevation, its distinct early English gothic design, 118-foot spire and native sandstone construction has been the centerpiece of downtown Laramie for well over a hundred years.

The building was designed by William Halsey Wood of New York who employed transverse brick arches and an open-timbered ceiling in its construction.

St. Matthew’s bell tower has rung out the time ever since its completion in 1916. There are 11 bells made by Meneele & Co. of Waterviliet, N.Y. The clock works were made by E. Howard Clock Co. of Boston. A brave soul must climb the tower stairs to hand-wind the mechanism every week.

As you enter the building through solid oak doors, you will notice the massive vaulted ceiling supported by huge wooden beams. The reredos at the front of the church is made of limestone from Caen, France. Many intricate and beautiful stained-glass windows adorn the walls on all sides of the cathedral sanctuary and are creations of noted glass masters.

The pipe organ that plays almost every Sunday was Donated by C. V. Voorhis in 1926. It was built by the E. M. Skinner Organ Co of Boston. It contains four manuals, 51 ranks and 3,111 pipes and is one of the finest Skinner organs in the country.

Hunter Hall, the home of the Diocese of the Episcopal Church in Wyoming, is positioned along the north-east. This large building was originally an orphanage and is now used for offices and classrooms. The original Deanery is located between and behind the Cathedral and Hunter Hall and now serves as office space and houses Courtesy Clothing. The three buildings make up what is known as St. Matthew’s Cathedral Close. In the center of this complex is The First World War Memorial Cross.