St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (Indianapolis, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint John Church and Rectory
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 121 South Capitol Avenue 124 and 126 West Georgia Street Indianapolis, Indiana |
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| Built | 1863–1871 |
| Architect | Diedrich A. Bohlen |
| Architectural style | French Gothic Revival and American Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000061 |
| Added to NRHP | September 17, 1980 |
Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The church started in 1837 as Holy Cross parish. In 1850, it was renamed Saint John the Evangelist. It is the oldest Catholic church in Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana. Many consider it the "mother" of Catholic churches in the city. It played a big part in the growth of the Catholic Church there.
Saint John's Church was like a main church (called a pro-cathedral) for the diocese from 1878 to 1906. Its rectory (the priest's house) was where the bishop lived and worked from 1878 to 1892. In 1900, the first special ceremony for a bishop (called an episcopal consecration) in Indianapolis happened here. Even though many thought Saint John's was a main cathedral, it was never officially named one. The official cathedral was in Vincennes, Indiana, until 1898. That's when the main church office (called the episcopal see) moved to Indianapolis.
Diocesan events continued at Saint John's until Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral was built in 1906. The rectory kept the main church office (the diocesan chancery) until 1968. It was also the main court for the diocese until 1982. Both Saint John's Church and its rectory were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The Saint John's Church you see today is the third church for the parish. It's the second one built on the Georgia Street land. It's the main building among several church buildings. These are located at the corner of Georgia Street and Capitol Avenue. Diedrich A. Bohlen, a famous architect from Indianapolis, designed the rectory (1863), the church (1867–71), and an addition to the rectory (1878). Bohlen's son, Oscar, designed the two tall spires. He also watched over their building in 1893. The church is made of red brick and has a mix of styles. These include French Gothic Revival and American Romanesque Revival architecture. The main worship area can seat 3,000 people. It was the largest church in Indiana when its first stone was laid in 1867. It was officially opened on July 2, 1871.
Contents
History of Saint John's Parish
Early Beginnings
Holy Cross parish was the first Catholic church in Indianapolis. It started in 1837. Father Vincent Bacquelin held the first regular church service in a local tavern. In November 1837, the church bought land for its first building. This was at Washington and California Streets. The first church, a small wooden building, opened on October 11, 1840. It was called the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
In 1846, Bishop Célestine de la Hailandière bought three lots on Georgia Street. This is where the church buildings are today. In 1850, a new brick church was built there. Father John Guéguen, the pastor, changed the parish name to Saint John the Evangelist. This was to honor Father Bacquelin's patron saint, Saint John the Evangelist.
Growing the Parish Community
Augustus Bessonies became the pastor of Saint John's in 1857. He served until 1890. During his time, the parish grew a lot. They built a new church, rectory, and school buildings on Georgia Street. In 1859, a new school was built for Saint John's Academy. This was the first Catholic school in the city. The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods ran the school. It later moved to Maryland Street in 1874. The original school building was torn down.
In 1863, the parish built a new rectory next to the church. In 1867, a three-story brick school for boys was built. The Brothers of the Sacred Heart taught there until 1929. This building was also later torn down.
Building the Current Church
Work on the current Saint John's Church began in April 1867. The main building was finished in 1871. The tall twin spires were added later in 1893 because they were very expensive. In the early 1870s, the Bishop of Vincennes, Jacques Maurice de St. Palais, stayed at Saint John's rectory. He used the church as his main church (proto-cathedral) when he visited Indianapolis.
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Saint John's served as the main church for the diocese from 1878. This was when Bishop Silas Chatard moved his home and office there. It continued until 1906, when Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral was built. Bishop Chatard got special permission from Pope Leo XIII to live in Indianapolis. After he became bishop in 1878, he asked architect Diedrich A. Bohlen to design an addition to the rectory. This addition would be the bishop's home and the main church office. The bishop lived there from 1878 until 1892.
When Bishop Chatard moved to Indianapolis, many people thought Saint John's was the main cathedral. But it was never officially named that. The official cathedral stayed in Vincennes until March 28, 1898. That's when Pope Leo XIII officially moved the main church office to Indianapolis. It then became the Diocese of Indianapolis. Since the new cathedral wasn't ready until 1906, Saint John's Church continued to host important church events.
Father Bessonies's successor, Monsignor Francis H. Gavisk, became the pastor in 1890. He oversaw the completion of the church in 1893. The church was repaired for its 100th birthday in 1971. Saint John's church and rectory were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 1985, Saint John's again served as a main church for some events. This happened when Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral was being fixed up.
Church and Rectory Design
Saint John's Church is the main building in a group of church structures. They are located on the southwest corner of Georgia Street and Capitol Avenue. These buildings were built in different stages. Diedrich A. Bohlen designed the rectory (1863) and the current Saint John's Church (1867–71). He also designed the bishop's residence and rectory addition (1878). Bohlen's son, Oscar, designed the two tall spires on the church's front and watched over their construction.
The red-brick, two-story rectory was built in 1863. It is older than the current church. It faces south on Georgia Street. The rectory addition, built in 1879, cost about $10,000 at that time.
Building the current church began in 1867. Money for the church came from private donations and fundraising. It cost about $120,000 to build. Unlike the first church, which faced Georgia Street, this church faces west on Capitol Avenue. Bishop St. Palais laid the first stone on July 21, 1867. Archbishop John B. Purcell officially opened the new church on July 2, 1871. The twin spires were added in 1893. The church was closed for several months in 1893 to build the spires, install a pipe organ, and decorate the inside.
Church Description
The Saint John's Church you see today has a mix of styles. It includes parts of French Gothic Revival and American Romanesque Revival architecture.
Outside and Layout
The church is made of red brick with white limestone corners. It sits on a limestone foundation. It has a curved main entrance, a square dome (called a cupola), and two tall spires. The church's basic shape is like a cross (called a cruciform plan). It has a main area (the nave), a small side section (the transept), and a half-eight-sided end section (the apse). The church can seat 3,000 people. It was the largest church in Indiana when its first stone was laid in 1867. The church is about 75 feet wide, 202.5 feet long, and 53 feet tall. Its twin spires are 194 feet tall.
The front of the church, facing Capitol Avenue, has three parts. Each part has a stone entrance. The middle section has the main entrance with large wooden doors. Stone columns support a pointed arch, typical of Gothic style. Above the main door, a stone carving by Joseph Quarmby shows John the Evangelist thinking about the scriptures. The church's building dates (1867 and 1871) are carved in stone above the entrance. A half-circle stone cap says "D.O.M." which means "To God, the Best and Greatest." A rose window is in the center of the second floor. The two tower sections have their own entrances and copper spires.
Inside the Church
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The inside of the church has a Gothic style. It features columns and arched ceilings. An organ and choir area are at the back of the main worship space. The curved ceiling is painted a light color. Guy Leber, an Italian-Swiss painter, painted the ceiling of the apse. It shows "The Angels of Glory."
The church's original walls had wooden panels about 5 feet high. Stonecarver Henry R. Sanders made the decorative parts of the columns from plaster. Four coats of arms were added in 1893. These represent Pope Pius IX, Bishop St. Palais, Pope Leo XIII, and Bishop Chatard. Statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph are on either side of the apse. Paintings for the Stations of the Cross came from Paris, France. The main altar, made of Italian marble, and the French Gothic pulpit, made of oak, were added in 1893. The church's original seats were made of black walnut. A mosaic tile floor was installed in 1905, replacing carpet.
The church has four small chapels along the main worship area. Two are on each side. The Saint Patrick and Pietà chapels were gifts from Bishop Chatard. The Sacred Heart and Saint Anne chapels were gifts from Father Bessonies. Each chapel has a statue. For example, the Saint Patrick Chapel has a statue of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Each of the four side chapels also has two art nouveau-style glass windows, installed in 1893.
Twenty-five leaded-glass windows are in the church's outer walls. The original rose window on the west side was broken in a hailstorm in 1923. The Emil Frei Art Glass Company designed its replacement, installed in 1924. It shows Saint John on the island of Patmos. The stained-glass window in the center of the apse was a gift from Bishop St. Palais. It shows Saint John's vision from the Bible.
A pipe organ built in 1989 is in the organ area at the back. Its outer case is from the original organ, installed in 1894. Some of the pipes are from an older organ built in 1935. When the church was updated in 1971, the altar was moved to face the people. The baptismal font was also moved.
The Rectory Building
The rectory was built in two stages. The two-story east part was built in 1863. The three-story bishop's residence and office was built in 1879. Both buildings face Georgia Street. They are made of red brick with limestone trim. The 1863 building has steps leading to its entrance. The rectory's front has a special gable and an arch over the door. The 1879 addition looks more Victorian. It has arched openings and a two-story bay window on the front. A red-brick wall separates the rectory from Georgia Street.
Special Events
Auxiliary bishop Denis O'Donaghue was made a bishop at Saint John's Church on April 25, 1900. This was the first time such a ceremony happened in Indianapolis.
Church Membership
After 1900, fewer people lived downtown. So, church membership went down. In the 1880s, there were 3,000 members. By the 1970s, there were fewer than 30. In 1971, for its 100th anniversary, the church started a new goal. It began to serve visitors to Indianapolis and people who work downtown. The church is close to the Indianapolis Convention Center and hotels. This makes it a good place for visitors and convention attendees. As of 2017, the church has grown to 1,200 families.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Juan Evangelista (Indianápolis) para niños
