The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception has been a part of Albany’s skyline for more than 160 years.
"It opened in 1852. Now, one thing that we have here at the cathedral, we have six past bishops buried here in the cathedral. We have a crypt below our sanctuary," said tour guide Andy Lopez.
Albany has had 10 Roman Catholic bishops. Two are still alive, while another two are buried elsewhere, including Albany’s most famous bishop, John McCloskey, who would later become America’s first cardinal. The remaining six ended up under the cathedral.
After the death of a bishop, the church needed a way to easily move the casket into the crypt.
"Down here, if you look closely at these tiles, is no grout in between and they are not cemented to the floor," said Lopez. "At the time of the lowering the bishop into the crypt, these tiles will be removed."
So have all six bishops passed through that door hidden on the altar?
"Not really," Lopez admitted. "Only four. Two of the bishops, their caskets were extra large and they would not fit through these doors or this opening, so they had to be carried down to the crypt manually."
The cathedral has gone through a number of renovations through its past and will continue for its future. Time has stood still for the crypt, though.
Over 120 years from its first burial there are only two spots left. Eventually the crypt will be closed, but for now it’s a subtle reminder of how Albany is so rife with history.
Interested in taking a tour of the cathedral? You can tour not only the crypt but the entire Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by calling the Rectory and Church offices at 518-463-4447 or emailing Ecathedr@nycap.rr.com.