The Story of the Cathedral of the Madeleine
Gary Topping, with a foreword by Bishop John C. Wester
includes 41 historical black-and-white photographs and a color photo essay by Ann Torrence
The Cathedral of the Madeleine:
- Beloved by generations of Utahns for its classic exterior architecture and brilliant interior decoration;
- Emblematic of a vibrant Roman Catholic community of faith in the midst of Salt Lake City;
- Home to the Eccles Organ Festival, the Madeleine Festival of Arts and Humanities, and the Good Samaritan Program serving the poor and needy;
- Restored, modernized, transformed, to serve the spiritual needs of Utah’s Catholics in the 21st century.
In celebration of the centennial of the dedication of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Gary Topping’s timely book narrates the founding and growth of the Catholic church in Utah through the perspective of the construction, embellishment, and restoration of the Cathedral in its first 100 years.
“The Cathedral of the Madeleine has earned its place in the life of the people of Utah and is cherished by those of all faiths, cultures and traditions. It makes God mercifully immanent and at the same time awesomely transcendent as no other building can do. In this sense, the Cathedral is a revolving door through which heaven bound pilgrims can find rest, nourishment and peace along the way.”
– from the Foreword by Bishop John C. Wester
Gary Topping is Professor of History at Salt Lake Community College and archivist of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. Topping has published widely on a variety of Utah and western topics including Utah Catholic history. Among his recent books are Glen Canyon and the San Juan Country and Utah Historians and the Reconstruction of Western History.
Published by Sagebrush Press
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
ISBN 978-0-9703130-6-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009931950