St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

Corner of St. John Street and Madison Streets

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Green Bay, Wisconsin

"In the Fall of 1831, a young Dominican missionary, Reverend Samuel Mazzuchelli, was sent to La Baye to establish a Catholic parish for the Indians and French-Canadian fur traders living here. The first church was built at Shantytown, the site of the present Allouez Catholic Cemetery, on land donated by Joseph Ducharme.


"The Redemptorist Fathers and other pioneer missionaries continued the work of Father Mazzuchelli. A fire in 1847 and the change in the center of population brought the congregation to the site in the borough of Green Bay. This church was purchased from a Methodist congregation. This church was also destroyed by fire in March of 1872. A new, twin-spired brick building was built to replace the former Methodist church structure and was completed in 1873. Faulty wiring led to a fire which destroyed this church on March 13, 1911. On May 11th of that same year, Bishop Fox and the St. John's Parish trustees approved the building of the new church on the corner of Milwaukee and Madison Streets. Joseph Foeller was contracted to be the General Contractor for the new church at a cost of $54,099.00. The present day church was dedicated in 1912." (See Link 1.)

Sanctuary

(Link 3.)

"The roof line on all sides includes miniature arches below the eaves. The semi-circular arches are repeated in the windows, with most enhanced by white stonework that's reminiscent of an eyebrow. 

Stained Glass Eyebrow Window

"Death"

(Link 3.)

Stained Glass Eyebrow Window

"St. John at Potmos"

(Link 3.)

"Walls are massive. Decorative elements are abundant. High up in the two towers are Roman columns.  The church is considered architecturally significant as a textbook example of the Romanesque Revival style.


"Many people wonder why the towers are of different heights. That's a sign of the Romanesque Revival style that was popular starting in the late 19th century, the 1988 survey notes. The taller of the towers holds two bells. The larger bell is named St. John, and and the smaller bell is named St. Mary." (See Reference.)


In "December 20, 1911, when Father Ricklin ordered our two cast bronze bells from the Mcshane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, which is still in existence today and one of the only two church bell making companies left in the United States. The bells cost $1,095.00. Father Ricklin made the second and final payment on the bells in February, 1912. Combined, the bells weigh nearly 3500 pounds. They were installed in time to ring out for the Dedication Mass of the new church on September 9, 1912." (Link 2.)

"The stained glass windows in St. John's Church were commissioned by Father Ricklin and created in Chartres, France, by the artist Charles Lorin.... The Lorin Studio ...created may stained glass windows around the world including windows in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, the Cathedral Notre Dame de Chartres in France, the Miracle of St. Nicolas in the Monaco Cathedral,...(Link 3.)

St. Cicile

(Link 3.)

 "On April 27, 1912, St. John's contracted with the Gavin Mirror Art Glass Company of Milwaukee to pay them $695.95 for the windows." (Link 2.)

"St. John the Evangelist is the oldest continuous parish in the State of Wisconsin." (See Link 1.)

Congratulations to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on its 

100th Anniversary Celebration.

Reference: wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com • April 28, 2010
Photo: Top exterior photo taken in 2006 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.stjohnevangb.org/briefhist.html
Link 2: http://www.facebook.com/StJohnTheEvangelistGreenBay
Link 3: http://sjearchives.org/history-of-the-stained-glass-windows.php

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

                                                                                                               July 22, 2012

Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
1121 West Riverside Drive

Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes 
Catholic Church

Spokane, Washington

"In August of 1881, Jesuit Father Joseph Cataldo converted a carpenter's shop into the Church of St. Joseph, the first Catholic church in the Spokane Township.... Only five people attended the first Mass in that wooden shed which measured just fifteen by twenty-two feet.

1881 Church
(Link 2.)

"Five years later, a large brick church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes replaced the original structure, and a school opened under the direction of the Sisters of the Holy Names. 

1903 Church
(Link 2..)

"The cornerstone for the present church was laid in 1903. In 1906, the new school was completed. In 1913,... Our Lady of Lourdes became the Cathedral for the newly created Diocese of Spokane.

Sanctuary (Google Images)

"Since the church was remodeled in 1971, there is a mixture of old and new: Italian Romanesque style arches span the interior spaces while a square baldachino amplifies prayer and song for the congregation. The original Italian marble altar (See photo below.) depicting the sacrifice of Calvary supplies a stunning symbolic and artistic backdrop to the new altar -- the gathering table where the community of faithful share the Eucharist. 

Original Italian Marble Altar

"The sweet tones of the original W. W. Kimball organ in the loft complement the clear resonant notes of the Druffel Memorial organ in the transept.

 Pipes of Original W.W. Kimball Organ 

 Balcony, Rear of Church

 "The crowning beauty of the Cathedral is the Bavarian stained glass windows which create a panorama of Judeo-Christian history and tradition.  The restoration of the stained glass windows was completed in 1991." (Link 1.)

Side Sanctuary Window
Birth of Jesus

Side Sanctuary Window

Jesus in the Temple

Side Sanctuary Window

Wedding at Cana

West Transept Rose Window

East Transept Rose Window

The main entrance to the magnificent cathedral is through three sets of double  brass doors on Riverside Dr.  Each door is surrounded by white and pink brick columns and arches.

Center Front Doors

The Campus of the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes dominates  the north side 1100 West Riverside Drive in Browns Edition, west of down town.   The campus consists of the brilliant white Diocese Headquarters across the street to the east of the church, the church office to the west of the church, 
(the 1903 school picture above), and beyond that, the school.

Thank you: To Office Manager Rachel Rowley for providing access to the Cathedral.

Photos: Taken in 2012 by SW and from Link 2.

Link 1: http://www.spokanecathedral.com/

Link 2: http://archives.dioceseofspokane.org/Spokane_Diocese_Archive/Digital_
Archive/Pages/Our_Lady_of_Lourdes.html#0

                                                                           Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

orld. Amen

                                                                         July 15, 2012

Central United Methodist Church
518 West Third Street

Central United Methodist Church

Spokane, Washington

In 1879 the first Methodist society in Spokane Falls was formed.  This was the first Methodist Episcopal Church in the area and the beginnings of Central United Methodist Church.  The first small church was built on the southwest corner of Sprague and Washington. (Link 1.)

1879 Church

"The second church building was constructed in 1889 at Sprague and Bernard, and it was a substantial brick structure...  The fire of 1889 that destroyed so much of down town Spokane did not reach this church, but already the congregation had outgrown it, and a new site was secured at Third and Howard Street, where the church known as the Tabernacle was built, the first of three edifices built on the same site. 

1889 Church

"It was after the building of this church that about 99 members withdrew to form another church, the Vincent Methodist Episcopal church, located at Main and Lincoln. From this time through subsequent decades, Central Methodist Church grew and was blessed with faithful pastors and countless dedicated lay men and women.

"...the church burned to the ground, and plans began without delay for the building of a new church on the same site.  The cornerstone of the new church, our present edifice, was laid in 1905. The basement was first used for services in 1906 and full use of the new church began on May 26, 1907. (Link 1.)

South Side of Church

"In 1923, church membership was close to 2,200 and Sunday School enrollment at 1,000.  The Ladies Aid Society had 260 members. In honor of returning solders of World War I and of those who died in the services, the large memorial stained-glass window was added on the south side of the sanctuary." (Link 1.) (See window below.)

Balcony Stained Glass Window Opposite the Altar

Today Central Methodist Church with its two square towers faces down town's  busy West 3rd Street, with the elevated Highway 90 a half block to the south.  Distinctive red brick stripes circle both the  western pillar and the extension of the west tower. Red doors with white crosses open to each of the two entrances on West 3rd Street and Howard Street.  The outline of the two rose windows of the Sanctuary are also prominent on both West 3rd and Howard Streets.

The sanctuary of the church is in the round with exposed organ pipes above the altar. (See photo below.)  The shape of the room and its recessed balcony is accented with ornate crown molding and pillars. 

Sanctuary

There are two rose windows in the sanctuary.  The memorial window (In photo above.) and the window that can be seen outside between the two square towers. (In photo below) Both widows sit in balcony walls.  The details of the balcony, it pillars, ornate crown molding, and brass rails can be seen in the photo below.

Balcony Stained Glass Window Opposite the Altar

In the ceiling of the sanctuary is a skylight. Small squares of glass are ribbed with struts which extend across the domed ceiling. (See photo below.)

Sanctuary Central Ceiling Skylight

Two congregations now meet at Central United Methodist Church.  The original congregation that now lives in all areas of Spokane and the young congregation of Vintage Faith Community Church lead by Kyle Brinkland.

Central United Methodist Church also played its part in the origins of Father's Day.  It was at this church in 1909 the Sonora Smart Dodd heard a sermon on Mother's Day. Because of the devotion of her father to the family she was inspired to look for support for a day for fathers, a Father's Day.  See Blog Post June 17, 2012 (Father's Day) for more about its history.

Thank you: To Steve Hart in the office of Central United Methodist Church and

                     Kyle Brinkland, pastor of the the Vintage Faith Community Church.

Photos: Taken in May 2012 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/spokane-centralumc/

                                                                           Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

Skykomish Community Church
112 4th Street

Skykomish Community Church

Skykomish, Washington


Skykomish is a small town  38.3 miles east of Seattle in Washington State.  It is named for the Skykomish River that must be crossed on the entry to the town from Highway 2. "The population was 198 as of the 2010 census, down from an estimated peak of "several thousand" in the 1920's. 

"Skykomish was founded as a railroad town. (It was incorporated in 1909.) Today, it is mainly a stopping point for recreational access to the surrounding mountains, including skiing at nearby Stevens Pass." (Link 3.) 

Sanctuary

Skykomish Community Church was built as a private home.  The square steeple with herringbone louvered inserts was added later, possibly in the late 1930's when it was remodeled to a church. According to Rose Marie Williams (See Thank You below.) it has always been named Skykomish Community Church and has always remained opened.  It now consists of a small entry room, a main sanctuary, and two small rooms. (The door to these rooms can be seen on the back wall in the photo above.) There is a separate small building in back of the church, the Children's Church, where the Sunday School meets.

North Wall Windows

"The three crosses in the front of the church were made and donated by Gary and Barbara Lihudis in the mid 1990's. The crosses depict Jesus Christ on the middle cross and the two thieves on each side.  The plaque carving on the north wall (between the colored glass windows) was made with a laser process and donated about 2006 by Howie and Marj Wenzel.  It is the Lord's Prayer." (Rose Marie Williams) .The top square panels of the side Sanctuary windows are colored glass. (See photo above.)

Over the years part time clergy, lay pastors, and Village Missions missionaries have lead the congregation.  In the 1950's or 1960's two Village Missions missionaries gave their leadership.  Miss Ruth played the piano and  also "began teaching the children music notes and soon had an elementary choir and a high school choir." (Rose Marie Williams)  The other, Miss Dorothy "gave the sermons and attended to other church duties...  both ladies studied how to lead and direct the (Swiss) hand bell choir.  The Swiss hand bell choir existed in the 1960's, beginning about 1964 After years of not being used, when the two ladies left our church...the bells were eventually given to another church." (Rose Marie Williams)


Since August 2011, the Village Mission missionaries to Skykomish Community Church have been Tony and Cathy Bittner.  Village Mission began in 1948.  It was founded to meet the spiritual needs of rural communities in Canada and the United States. It presently serves in 230 communities and  has served more than 1,000 churches. "The aim is to provide a Christ-centered community church program capable of involving the entire population of a local community.  This is accomplished through worship services, person contacts in homes, Sunday schools, home and group Bible studies, special youth and adult activities, vacation Bible schools, and other activities." (Link 4.)

Skykomish Community Church is the only church in Skykomish.  The congregation attendance on Sunday mornings is twenty.

Thank you: To Cathy and Tony Bittner, missionaries from "Village Mission" to

                      the Skykomish Community Church. To Rose Marie Williams, a 
                      member of the congregation since the 1930's, for history and 
                      architectural descriptions.

Photos: Taken in May 2012 by SW.

Link 1: http://www.manta.com/c/mm5h20t/skykomish-community-church

             (Original church established in 1930)
Link 2: http://www.city-data.com/city/Skykomish-Washington.html 
Link 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skykomish,_Washington
Link 4: http://www.village-missions.org/

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

                                                                                    July 1, 2012    

Front of Church, 1970 

124 West 8th Street

Posthumous
Elim Pentecostal Chapel
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"Elim (Hebrew: אֵילִם‎, ’êlim) was one of the places where the Israelites camped following their Exodus from Egypt. It is referenced in Exodus 15.27 and Numbers 33.9 as a place where "there were twelve wells of water, and seventy date palms," and that the Israelites "camped there near the water... Thus, Elim is generally thought to have been located in Wadi Gharandel, an oasis 100 km southeast of Suez.

"Several ministries of mercy, Christian and otherwise, have adopted the name Elim, most prominently the Elim Pentecostal Church."  That church was founded in Ireland in 1915.  (Link 2.)  However, they have never had associated churches in Canada or the United States.

Fire Insurance Map, 1965

(Elim Pentecostal Chapel in red)

According to the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives, Elim Pentacostal Chapel was built at 121 West 12th Street in 1942 for $3000 .  Lot 4, Block 86, DL 548 lies in the first block west of Lonsdale Avenue on the west side of the lane.  Since this block is triangular, the lot runs from West 8th Street to West 12th Street. The entrance to the church when it was built in 1942 was on the north end of the lot, on West 12th Street.  

1958 Construction of Addition
(slide 2297 North Vancouver Archives)

The Building Permit also recorded that an addition was under construction in 1958.  The address is given as 124 West 8th Street as it was to include the new entrance.  According to photos from the North Vancouver Archives the addition seems to have doubled the size of the church building. The new North Vancouver City Library was built directly to the west at 135 West 12th  Street in the same year.

Back of Church, 1970

121 West 12th Street

In 1970 the Church was appraised at $96,750 by Service Agencies and Appraisal Co. Ltd (North Vancouver Archives).  The City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives list Elim Pentecostal Chapel as being at 124 West 8th Street through 1973.  In 1974 the lot is listed as being under construction.

"Big Apartment Blocks changed look for 

lower North Vancouver City" 15/4/70 

(Elim Pentecostal Chapel in red)

In 1973 a new Elim Pentacostal Chapel was built at 2800 Mountain Highway. (See blog post October 12, 2014.) 

Photos: Taken of North Vancouver Archives documents in 2012 by SW.

Fire Insurance Map: 1965,North Vancouver Archives.
Link 1: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elim/143069615704723?sk=wiki
Link 2: http://www.elim.org.uk/Groups/109308/Our_history.aspx