CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine was a community based project in Morningside Heights, New York City. Drawing from the neighborhood, the grand vision included the recruitment of apprentices from neighboring Harlem, bringing in traditional masons and carvers from England, and then constructing a cathedral for the city and beyond. Joseph and Jeep Kincannon were hired and collectively worked carving for and building the South Tower a total of 27 years. Jeep the oldest of the two brothers, worked first as a sawer, then mason, carver and finally became the Chief Draftsman. Joseph followed the same apprenticeship process, but rather than move into drafting, Joseph remained as a  carver, and achieved the position of Lead Carver. Holly Kincannon was hired as part of the Cathedral Stoneworks team. Working in collaboration with the Stoneyard Institute, her restoration projects extended outside of the Cathedral Close, but would provide funding for the construction of the tower. Later Ms. Kincannon trained under the Kincannon brothers as a mason, carver and in lofting, thus continuing the generous legacy of the cathedral’s building program.