Bells pealed, the choir sang and tourists snapped pictures ”” of scaffolding and cracked limestone. For the first time since the August earthquake, Washington National Cathedral opened to the general public Sunday, although it was still clear the earth had moved beneath the national landmark.
More than 2,000 worshipers gathered for the first service with the Episcopal church’s new bishop of Washington, Mariann Edgar Budde. Also present were dozens of curiosity seekers and tourists eager for a look at the quake-damaged cathedral, which had been closed since Aug. 23.