Grace Cathedral has a clerestory, but can be hard to view so far up. The South Transept can be seen on California Street. As one walks toward Taylor Street, he/she will come to the front of the cathedral to see the rose window and triumphal arch doorways. .
As one walks to the main doors, one will observe the distinguishable Renaissance Doors of Paradise. The replica of Ghiberti's doors is made in bronze at Grace and not gold. Once inside the cathedral, one will see the nave and side aisles that make up for more than fifty percent of the cathedral. When one looks up, he/she will see the pointed arches of the nave arcade and unfinished vaulting. The lacking of a narthex does not alter the serene atmosphere of the cathedral. Unlike traditional Gothic cathedrals, Grace does not have a gallery or a triforium, resulting in the missing three story elevation. If one were to walk straight up one of the side choir aisles, he/she would come to a dead end since the ambulatory is absent from the cathedral. .
Despite the fact that the Bible opposes homosexuality, the existence of the AIDS Interfaith Chapel at Grace Cathedral embraces the culture of the city as a whole by demonstrating acceptance. This alone is unique, because the cathedral goes against what the Bible states, creating a contradiction.
The labyrinth separates Grace Cathedral from all of the famous cathedrals around the nation. The labyrinth is a duplicate of the sacred design at Chartres Cathedral, representing the journey of a pilgrim. The outdoor labyrinth is available for those who wish to meditate with nature.
The most beautiful element of the cathedral is the East Rose Window. Rose windows exemplify the universe through its geometry, a mandala which represents the "expression of human aspiration towards wholeness and coherence." (Cowen 10) Rose windows lack history themselves. Yet, rose windows derive from the Roman oculus. How rose windows came to be remains a mystery.
