In perhaps his last interview, Dean James Parks Morton talks about his vision and passion in establishing the apprentice stoneyard program at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The program therefore revived building the Cathedral, which had been dormant since 1941. The Dean brought in English Masons skilled in traditional methods of stone cutting. As a result, they taught minority men and women the skills to build the Cathedral towers. Morton recounts his memories of the stoneyard with Cathedral Artist-in-Residence Robert F. Rodriguez at The Interchurch Center on November 19, 2015.
Dean James Parks Morton looks at photographs during a video inerview on Nov. 19, 2015 at the Interchurch Center in New York City. – Photo Robert F. Rodriguez 
Dean James Parks Morton talks about his stoneyard memories. – Photo Robert F. Rodriguez 
Dean James Parks Morton looks at photographs during a video inerview on Nov. 19, 2015 at the Interchurch Center in New York City. – Photo Robert F. Rodriguez
Robert F. Rodriguez
Robert is a New York based photojournalist, photo editor and videographer. He has a distinguished 40 year career in newspapers and magazines. Robert is a past president of the New York Press Photographers. He became an artist-in-residence at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine when he met Dean Morton and began documenting the stoneyard. In his own words…
My relationship with the Cathedral and the building program goes back to around 1980 when I met with Dean Morton about photographing the program through a photojournalist’s eyes. I felt this was such a unique project that needed to be properly and fully documented. The Dean gave me carte blanche to cover the program and for the next dozen years I became involved in the fabric not only of the stoneyard program but Cathedral life in general. I became immersed in the building project and learned about boasting patterns, Indiana limestone, crocketts, ashlars and was awed by the process and by the creativity of the crew. I became good friends with many of the stonecutters and carvers and have maintained relationships with many.
Dean Morton became a very important person in my life. He officiated over my wedding to Stephanie Azzarone and, wonderfully, helped us renew our vows after 25 years. (We like to say that Dean Morton gave us the “extended warranty.”) I live only a few blocks from the Cathedral and I often look at the tower and, like Dean Morton said in my video, perhaps one day soon it will continue.
– robert f. rodriguez
Because he is normally behind the lens, this photo of Robert working in the stoneyard is a rare one. We are grateful to Robert for the video of Dean Morton reminiscing about his favorite stoneyard. Likewise we thank him for the many photos he shared with us.