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| author | Michael Thomas Sniffen |
| title |
Building and Rebuilding a Protestant American Cathedral: Gothic Power, Privilege, Performance, and Imagination at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Long Island
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| abstract | The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York, completed in 1885, is the first purpose-built Protestant Gothic
Revival cathedral in the United States. This work suggests, by way of Richard Schechner's performance theory, Ronald Grimes' ritual theory, Thomas Tweed's theory
of religion, and ongoing improvisational work at the cathedral today, a fresh way to envision ritual performance and spiritual development in a Gothic setting.
In course, the cathedral is engaged as monument, memorial, performative ritual environment, and center for spiritual imagination. Chapter I traces the circumstances,
dynamics, and actors that led to the building of the cathedral. Chapter II builds a foundation for interpreting and understanding the Protestant Gothic Revival
cathedral in America as a unique manifestation of the religious, social, political, and artistic ideals of cathedral founders in the nineteenth century. Chapter
III provides a comprehensive description of the Cathedral of the Incarnation based on extensive archival research, original architectural drawings, and the
private journals of architect Henry Harrison. Chapter IV illuminates the cathedral as a performative-transformative ritual environment, and Chapter V focuses
on the author' fieldwork as dean of the cathedral, reenvisioning the building today as a vital center for spiritual imagination. |
| school | The Theological School, Drew University |
| degree | Ph.D. (2019) |
| advisor | Heather M Elkins |
| committee | Jesse Mann
Melanie Johnson-DeBaufre |
| full text | MTSniffen.pdf - requires Drew uLogin |
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