Expressing the Universality of the Catholic Church through Architecture

[SiempreFiel]

Here’s an interesting fact about St. Patrick church in Chicago.

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“The Romanesque church, designed by Asher Carter and Augustus Bauer, was completed in 1856. The bell towers, one in a Western and the other in an Eastern style to symbolize the universality of the Church, were added in 1885.”

SOURCE: The Archdiocese of Chicago: A Journey of Faith, pg. 194, by Edward R. Kantowicz

 

[ronyodish]

Wow, how interesting!

God bless,

Rony

 

[mardukm]

Wow, that’s AWESOME! I wonder what the make-up of the congregation is. Is the pastor a bi-ritual priest?

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Woodstock]

It would have been nice if they had made them of equal height and proportions. They both look tacked on as an afterthought. If I recall correctly, they were added many years after the church was built.

 

[mardukm]

It would have been nice if they had made them of equal height and proportions. They both look tacked on as an afterthought. If I recall correctly, they were added many years after the church was built.

Architecturally, is not the value of the dome in Orthodoxy contained WITHIN the structure (i.e., the icon inside)?

In contrast, the towers of Western architecture have their primary value in its EXTERNAL representation (meant to inspire onlookers to lift their eyes towards heaven).

Given the symbolism of the different architectural styles, does it really matter that the Eastern tower is not as tall?

They do look tacked on, though.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[SiempreFiel]

They both look tacked on as an afterthought. If I recall correctly, they were added many years after the church was built.

Yes.

The bell towers were added exactly 29 years after the completion of the church.

 

[Servus_Pio_XII]

And once again we see the Latins trying to assert their dominance under a thin veil of equality…

Just kidding.

What a neat idea!