{"id":16545,"date":"2012-10-24T08:18:27","date_gmt":"2012-10-24T14:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/?p=16545"},"modified":"2013-06-03T13:25:14","modified_gmt":"2013-06-03T19:25:14","slug":"new-old-in-church-architecture-a-case-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2012\/10\/24\/new-old-in-church-architecture-a-case-study\/","title":{"rendered":"New & Old in Church Architecture: A Case Study"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a liturgical designer and consultant, one of the things that I’m interested in is the notion of artistic stewardship when we close or remodel our church buildings. Are there ways to make creative use of the art and furnishings that previous generations have left us? With great interest I’ve watched the development and progress of the new St. Joseph Catholic Church<\/a> in Le Mars, Iowa, which was dedicated this past Sunday.<\/p>\n

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St. Joseph Catholic Church, Le Mars, Iowa on the night of dedication: October 21, 2012.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new church replaces the parish’s previous 127-year-old structure, which developed serious moisture issues shortly after its construction due to the incorrect firing of exterior bricks. Decades of trapped moisture had literally caused the church to begin falling apart.<\/p>\n

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The former St. Joseph Church standing next to its replacement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Interior of the former St. Joseph Church prior to demolition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the very beginning,\u00a0parishioners were intent on reusing as many elements as possible from the former church – both for sentimental reasons and cost-effectiveness. In fact the new church, designed by BCDM Architects<\/a> of Omaha, Nebraska, was essentially designed around the furnishings from the former church.<\/p>\n

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Interior of the new St. Joseph Church features furnishings from the previous building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And boy, did they reuse everything! While not a complete clone of the original building, the new church contains many similar characteristics, including a vague Neo-Gothic architectural schema. The new 600-seat church is laid out in a traditional cruciform shape, with the altar near the crossing and surrounded by pews on three sides. The tabernacle is housed in the towering three-story reredos from the former church and is obviously the visual focal point of the space.<\/p>\n

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The church's baptismal font and hanging sculpture at the entryway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon entering the church, one is confronted with a large, flowing baptismal font fashioned from the previous church’s woodwork. Above the font hangs a large sculpture containing portions of stained glass windows from the former church. While effective at drawing one’s attention to the font and making creative use of the old windows, the sculpture does not contain any baptismal imagery. Rather, the stained glass panels depict various symbols such as a thurible and the “IHS” monogram.<\/p>\n

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View of the chancel from one of the transcepts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A view from the transcept illustrates how the seating relates to the chancel and the overall space. The side altars from the former church have been relocated to the rear of the transcepts to serve as areas of private prayer. It’s a bit curious that the sanctuary lamp hangs at the center of the crossing and not nearer to the tabernacle, especially since its entire purpose is to indicate that the Blessed Sacrament is present. The choir area is also located in one of the transcepts.<\/p>\n

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A Day Chapel is located behind the chancel for smaller liturgical celebrations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Through a doorway near the chancel, one enters a small Day Chapel. The chapel seats approximately 80 people in longitudinally arranged pews. The reredos were fashioned from the former church’s pipe organ case and houses a crucifix and tabernacle from a nearby closed church. While the intimate space is conducive to private prayer, it seems theologically questionable to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in two separate tabernacles in the same church.
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