The Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater stands on West 12th Street in downtown Vancouver, Washington. It was built in 1885 from Gothic Revival brick, made at a brickyard here in town, and served as the cathedral for a diocese covering everything from the Rockies to the Pacific. The cathedral designation has now moved to Seattle but the building has carried on as a parish church. This gives it the name of a proto-cathedral, meaning a former cathedral. Pointed arches and white trimmed windows run the length of the exterior, with a central bell tower and shorter towers either side. The soaring height does create a framing problem, since the church sits in a bustling downtown. You will have to experiment to see if you can back up far enough that you are not tilting the camera up or the tower will lean in the frame. The interior has been completely restored with its vaulted ceiling painted pale blue and covered in gold stars. The intricate ceiling is just begging to be photographed! The altar was carved in Belgium and shipped around South America to get here. Stained glass runs down both sides, so try to time your visit for when the sun is hitting once side or the other. Entry is free and the doors are open through the week. Remember it is a working parish, so avoid Mass times and it's best to ask before setting up anything more than a handheld camera. (Vancouver, Washington, USA)
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