The Cathedral: Chronology
1986
Philippe Petit performs Ascent on a high wire in the nave to
musical accompaniment by Paul Winter and pianist Evelyn Crochet.
Nobel Peace Price winner Bishop Desmond Tutu speaks at the Cathedral,
calling for economic sanctions against the apartheid government
of South Africa. Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko reads his work
from the pulpit.
Actor Robert DeNiro reads English translations. Consecration
of the Altar for Peace in the nave, by master woodworker George
Nakashima.
1987
Dedication of the memorial to the genocide of the Armenians by
Zadik Zadikian. Memorial service for writer James Baldwin includes
eulogies by Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka and William
Styron. Summer silent film festival features musical accompaniment
by Lee Erwin at the Great Organ.
1988
Artist-in-residence Forces of Nature, a dance company blending
African and Caribbean traditions, presents a series of performances.
Daniel Hoffman is named poet-in-residence.
1989
Interfaith observance of Anne Frank's 60th birthday. Thousands
attend memorial service for choreographer Alvin Ailey. Bishop
Moore retires and is succeeded by Richard Grein, 14th Bishop
of New York.
1990
Vaclav Havel, playwright and president of the newly-liberated
Czech Republic, is guest of honor at a gala concert. Big Bird
and other Muppets pay tribute to puppeteer Jim Henson at his
memorial service. Death of Canon West.
1991
Solemn memorial service remembers all who died in the Gulf War.
Theater visionary Robert Wilson stages Grace for Grace.
1992
The Cathedral marks its centennial with an architectural competition
calling for designs that explore connections between ecology
and spirituality. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava wins the
competition with a design incorporating greenhouse-like structures
to serve as north and south transepts and a glass-enclosed arboretum
atop the nave. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra performs Benjamin
Britten's War Requiem, inaugurating an annual tradition of
performing a free Memorial Day concert at the Cathedral. The
Archbishop of Canterbury dedicates the Compass Rose set in the
floor of the Great Choir. The Compass Rose, official symbol of
the worldwide Anglican Communion, was designed by Canon West.
1993
The National Religious Partnership for the Environment is established
at the Cathedral. Financial problems halt construction of the
southwest tower. Memorial service for Dizzy Gillespie
is held.
Based on information from the Cathedral's Web Page