Interior Architecture

	The installation of electricity in 1895 gave St. Mary’s the distinction of being the first church in Albany to enjoy electric lighting. In preparation of the centennial of St. Mary's Church in 1896, Father Walworth and Father Dillon contracted with an ecclesiastical decorator from northern New Jersey by the name of Panzaroni. He, in turn (it is alleged) hired an artist from Italy to do the painting on the ceiling and also on the upper side walls. They were restored in 1982 by the D'Ambrosio Studio of Pelham, New York, who brought in an artist from Italy named Antonio Romano. Following Easter, 1989, Warwick Refinishing Co. undertook the task of refinishing and renovating all of the church pews and the Communion rail. The pews were originally made of pine grained to resemble oak and capped by a molding of black walnut. The Communion rail was originally made of black walnut with oak spindles. Over the years, the wood had been covered with black stain. In 1997 and 1998, the interior walls were refinished along with all of the gilding of the columns and altar by Benny Sangiorgi Inc. of Albany. The artists were Angelo Sangiorgi and Matt Campbell.

Overlooking the center aisle on the balcony rail is a carved clock faced by two kneeling, gold-leafed angels which were also sculpted by the Italian woodcarver G. Vincenzo Mussner and put in place on December 16, 1993.

In June of 1995, a Rodgers Parallel Digital Instrument (960) with 20 channels of sound with an extended digital reverberation system was installed in our choir loft through the generosity of three donors. This organ's manual channels have a total of sixteen speaker units and four custom extended range bass speaker units. It also plays the chimes which are located in our bell tower.

At one time in its history, St. Mary's was called the Church of the Moving Pictures". Located in the back of the main altar, on a system of rollers and pulleys, were many tapestries which would be lowered behind the altar to indicate the changes of the liturgical seasons. These "banners" or tapestries have ceased to exist with the exception of two. The last of these tapestries "Resurrection" (which was lowered for Easter) is know permanently affixed to the back wall behind the Altar of Reposition. A second tapestry is also affixed permanently to the wall behind Out Lady's Altar.

With the appointment and instillation of the Right Reverend John McCloskey as Bishop of Albany on September 19, 1847, St Mary's was chosen as his Cathedral Church. The Episcopal chair which was used in the liturgy and Episcopal celebrations is still present.

Choir Stalls on the Sanctuary

Pews