St. Joseph’s Cathedral east of downtown Columbus is an interesting church, with construction beginning in 1866. But it changed plans over the years, with the original brick composition changed to stone. Columbus is a diocese, since the nearby city of Cincinnati is the Archdiocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Cincinnati.

I really like the exterior, with the stone having aged to give the appearance of the cathedral being a much older Medieval edifice, and not an American one dating to the Nineteenth Century.

Obviously a much taller spire was planned for the western side of the south-facing façade, which was never built.

Again, like many of the Catholic churches in the region, it is in the English Gothic Revival style, with elements of the Flamboyant Gothic, particularly over the front portals.

The interior is striking, and we see the second appearance of true stone groin vaulting, which is a rarity in St. Louis.

And what luck! The evening Saturday service was about to start, so the priest turned on the lights while I was visiting the cathedral.

In the apse, there are a series of oil paintings that are placed in shallow niches in the walls.

I believe it showed Christ as a teacher, and flanking him is the Annunciation, with angels in attendance. The paintings appear to have been restored or are new.

It is really a fantastic example of the Gothic style, with true clerestory windows above.

There are also some nice stained glass windows, primarily featured the Twelve Apostles.

Peter and Paul are paired together, as is usual, but I was intrigued by St. Peter’s depiction on the right; he is holding the gold key to Heaven, but is lacking the normal silver key, symbolizing his role as the first pope. I do not know why.

Outside, around back, you can get a sense of the form of the cathedral.

I believe there were plans for flying buttresses, but they were never built.