Cathedral of Saint Thomas More (Arlington, Virginia)

The Cathedral of Saint Thomas More located at 3901 Cathedral Lane is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington Virginia and the seat of Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. The rector of the cathedral is the Very Reverend Patrick L. Posey, V.F. Fr. Posey was appointed in June 2019.The Rev. Robert J. Rippy was the rector from 2005 to 2019. The cathedral also has a Parochial Vicar, two resident priests, Director of Religious Education, Youth Minister and Music & Liturgy Coordinator.

Description
The cathedral is a modern design and is constructed with a basilica floor plan. The exterior is red brick with three doors at the front. The doors are in shallow porticos formed by barrel arches that extend to the roof and contain a stained glass window above each door. The sanctuary houses a three-manual M.P. Moeller organ with 28 ranks of pipes installed in 1961. The organ was redesigned and expanded to 53 ranks in 1980 by organ builder Robert Wyant. Wyant served as cathedral organist from 1964, after two years as assistant organist, until his retirement in 1998.

History
The parish was established in 1938 and named for St. Thomas More. Until the sanctuary was completed in 1950, Masses were held in what is now the school gymnasium. The current church was constructed in 1961 above the 1950 sanctuary. It was elevated to a cathedral when the northern counties of Virginia split from the Diocese of Richmond to form the Diocese of Arlington and the first bishop was installed on August 13, 1974. The parish currently consists of 2,500 members.

In 1944, the parish established St. Thomas More Cathedral School. It currently offers grade levels pre-kindergarten through eighth and has approximately 400 students. The school was operated by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who established a permanent community at St. Thomas More August 25, 1945. Due to declining numbers, the order withdrew from the parish in June 1998.

To mark the Diocese of Arlington's 50th anniversary, Bishop Michael Burbidge announced an extensive renovation of the cathedral. Jim O’Brien of O’Brien and Keane Architecture of Arlington is the architect for the project, and Forrester Construction did the work. Architecturally, the building will be transformed from a Mid-century Modern design from when it was built to the Tudor style prominent when St. Thomas More was alive. A rose window depicting The New Jerusalem will be added to the north elevation. Other stained glass windows will depict the life of the Holy Family, individual depictions of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, and the patron saints of parishes in the diocese. The latter will be included in devotional shrines throughout the interior that will also include new statuary. The Cathedral is expected to be completed and reopened in September 2024.