The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine Has Been Named an Official Literary Landmark

December 04, 2012

The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine has officially been named a literary landmark. This honor was bestowed upon the institution because of its connection with Newbery Medal-winning author Madeleine L’Engle. The beloved writer behind A Wrinkle in Time served as a librarian at the church for more than 40 years. The induction ceremony took place on November 29th. L'Engle's granddaughter Charlotte Jones Voiklis was in attendance.

"Visitors felt L’Engle’s presence during the evensong, when a recording of her reading a passage from the Ephesians was played. Robin Adelson, executive director of the Children’s Book Council, an event sponsor, noted that the program 'connects the real world with the book world.' Beth Nawalinski, director of marketing and communications at United for Libraries, the division of the American Library Association that administers the Literary Landmark program, explained the process that recognizes locations throughout the country for their connection to significant literary events. The Empire State Center for the Book, which inducted L’Engle into the New York State Writers Hall of Fame in 2011, put forward the nomination for the literary landmark. The cathedral joins 122 literary landmarks across the country, including the Algonquin Roundtable, the Plaza Hotel, and the Little Red Lighthouse in New York City."

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Photo Credit: Sara Kelly Johns