Church of the Immaculate Conception (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of the Immaculate Conception
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
District	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Chapel for the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Year consecrated	1907
Status	active
Location
Location	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana  United States
State	Indiana
Architecture
Architect(s)	D. A. Bohlen and Son, Indianapolis
Architectural type	Chapel
Architectural style	Classical revival
Groundbreaking	1886
Completed	1907
Specifications
Direction of façade	West
Length	154 feet (47 m)
Width	72 feet (22 m)
Width (nave)	90 feet (27 m)
Spire(s)	1
Materials	Indiana limestone
Website
http://www.spsmw.org

The Church of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful and large church located in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. It's built from strong Indiana limestone and looks like buildings from the Italian Renaissance Revival style. This church is part of the motherhouse grounds for the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

It is the fourth church or chapel used by the Sisters of Providence since they arrived in 1840. Building the church started in 1886. The outside was finished in 1891, and the inside was completed in 1907. The church was officially opened on October 23, 1907. Today, it is still used for daily worship services that anyone can attend. The church also holds the special shrine and tomb of Saint Mother Théodore Guérin. She was the founder of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Below the main church, there is a chapel called Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel, built in 1905.

The inside of the church was updated in 1986. However, many of its original decorations are still there. These include marble columns, special marble walls, and a curved ceiling. You can also see the Stations of the Cross, beautiful stained glass windows, and religious paintings. There is a sculpture by Harry Breen and other artworks. The church's large pipe organ was installed in 1953. In 1986, some marble from the old main altar was used to create a new altar, a reading stand, and a special chair for the priest.

History of the Church

Early Chapels

When the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods first came to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana in 1840, there was no church. They used a simple log cabin as their first chapel. Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, who founded the Sisters, wrote about this small chapel. She said it was very basic compared to other buildings.

The log chapel was taken down in 1853. The Sisters then used a room in their new main building as their second chapel. In 1863, a simple wooden chapel was built. It was designed by an architect named Diedrich A. Bohlen. This wooden chapel was large enough for 300 people. But it was only meant to be a temporary church until a bigger, more permanent one could be built.

Building the Grand Church

Saint Mother Guérin always wanted to build a new church to honor the Immaculate Conception. Before she passed away in 1856, she started collecting materials for it. However, the church was not built during her lifetime. The current church, with its Italian Renaissance Revival style, is the fourth church or chapel used by the Sisters of Providence since 1840. It is now the main place for daily prayer and worship at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Diedrich A. Bohlen, a famous architect from Indianapolis, Indiana, designed the church. It is made of Indiana limestone. Construction began in 1886, led by Mother Euphrasie Hinkle. The first stone was laid that same year. In 1889, a fire destroyed the main building of the Sisters. The church, which was still being built, was damaged but not completely ruined. Oscar D. Bohlen, Diedrich's son, continued the work after his father died in 1890.

The outside of the church was finished in 1891. But it took another sixteen years to fully furnish the inside. By June 1892, the plasterwork was done. Temporary wooden floors, seats, and altars were put in. This allowed the sisters to worship in the unfinished church. A pipe organ was bought in 1902, but it was later replaced.

Decorating the Interior

Around 1902, the Sisters decided to focus on decorating the inside of the church. Mother Mary Cleophas Foley and Sister Mary Alma Ryan traveled to Europe. They visited many churches to get ideas. They were especially inspired by churches in Ravenna, Italy, and Paris, France.

Soon after they returned, skilled artisans and craftspeople were hired. They worked to decorate the church's interior. The completed church was officially opened on October 23, 1907. Many important religious leaders attended the celebration.

Modern Updates

In 1986, the church's interior was updated again. This was done to match new worship practices. It also helped to make the church's floor stronger. Melvin B. G. Meyer, a main architect, led this project.

Church Design and Art

Outside and Layout

The Church of the Immaculate Conception is built from Indiana limestone. It is designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The church has a basic cross-shaped layout. It has a long main area called a nave that crosses another section called a transept.

The church faces generally east and west. A tall bell tower stands on the west side of the church's front. This tower makes the church look even taller. Architect Oscar D. Bohlen said the church was designed with an "Italian Renaissance style with a French feeling." The Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel was built in 1905 in the crypt (a room below the church).

Inside the Church

Columns inside the church.

The beautiful interior of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

The church's interior has a high-ceiling nave. On each side of the nave are two aisles with lower ceilings. Original pink marble columns stand along the nave. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, has red marble walls and a curved ceiling. The different types of marble used to decorate the church come from places like Italy, Africa, Greece, and the United States.

The original floor was made of Venetian marble. In 1986, it was replaced with a speckled maroon and black floor. During that update, the church's walls and ceiling were painted in soft colors like mauve, pink, and alabaster. The original main altar was removed. However, the sanctuary still has many religious items, paintings, sculptures, and stained glass windows.

Stained Glass Windows

The church's beautiful stained glass windows were made in Munich, Germany. They show stories from the life of Christ, Mary (mother of Jesus), and figures from the Old Testament. Windows in the upper balcony show scenes of angels.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross are found under the balcony and around the back of the church. They are made of alabaster. These were created by a company from Munich and London. They were installed around 1891.

Paintings and Murals

"The Ascension" mural painted on the church ceiling.

Tadeusz Żukotyński, an artist from Munich and Chicago, painted three large murals. He also painted the curved ceiling in the sanctuary. His paintings include scenes of the Four Evangelists, "Return from Calvary," and "Flight into Egypt." The painting on the curved ceiling took Żukotyński three months to finish. It shows the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She stands on a globe, surrounded by clouds, with Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel beside her.

Another painting, "The Ascension," is on the ceiling where the nave and transept meet. It shows Christ going up to heaven. In 1906, while Żukotyński painted the religious figures, other artists decorated the rest of the church.

Altar Furniture

During the 1986 renovation, the old main altar was removed. This altar was made in Chicago and installed in 1906. The special Carrara marble from this old altar was used to create new pieces. These new pieces include a new altar, a lectern (reading stand), and a special chair for the priest.

Sculptures

When the old altar was removed, it created a space for a new sculpture. This sculpture, by Harry Breen, shows a Christ figure rising from the Crucifix.

In one of the church's special areas, there is a white marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It stands in front of a shrine that holds the tomb of Saint Mother Théodore Guérin. Another area has a statue of Saint Joseph. It also has a tablet marking the relics of other holy men and women.

On either side of the sanctuary, there are carved sculptures called bas reliefs. On the right, the Blessed Virgin gives a rosary to Saint Dominic. The infant Jesus gives a small wreath to Saint Catherine of Siena. On the left, the scene shows Saint Anne and Saint Joachim with the young Mary.

Music and Bells

Pipe Organ

In the upper balcony at the front of the church, there is a special pipe organ. It was made by the Casavant Frères Company in Canada and installed in 1953. This organ has about 1,700 pipes! It is the third organ used in the church. For its dedication in 1953, Sister Cecilia Clare Bocard, an organist and composer, played her own music. The organ was updated in 1999.

Church Bells

The church's bell tower holds a set of chimes. These eleven bells were made in Maryland and placed in the tower in 1910. Together, they weigh about 13,150 pounds (5,960 kg). In the past, the bells were rung by hand. They would wake the Sisters, call them to prayer, and signal bedtime. Hymns were also played on Sundays and holidays.

Today, the bells still ring every hour. They also toll when a Sister of Providence passes away. The Sisters also ring the bells each time someone is executed by capital punishment in the United States. Since 2004, a special computer system controls the bells. It can play programmed tunes or be controlled manually.

Services

Worship services at the church are open to everyone. On Sundays, services are at 11 a.m. From Monday to Saturday, they are at 11:30 a.m. (There might be changes for funerals or special holy days.)

See also