Old St. Patrick's

 

I've been wanting to capture the inside of this church for several years. Each time I tried I hit a wall so to speak.

First there was Covid, the church doors were closed.

Then there was constuctions around the area, the doors were closed.

Then there was renovation of the inside, the doors were closed.

You get the idea.

Anyway, last week when I got off the train and out onto Canal Street, I looked to my left and once again saw that gorgeous steeple staring at me. 

I figured what the heck, let me try again and see if the doors are open.

Lucky me!!!! Doors were open and the public could enter.

There was arrangements being made for an upcoming funeral, but the gentleman working at the church was nice enough to let me wander around and snap away.

Since its founding by Irish immigrants on Easter morning in 1846, Old St. Patrick’s has been interwoven in the life and history of the City of Chicago. Founded in 1846 as the first English-speaking parish in the city, the current church building was designed in a Romanesque style by two of Chicago’s earliest practicing architects: Augustus Bauer and Asher Carter. The cornerstone was laid on May 23, 1853, and the building was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1856.

 Old St. Patrick’s is one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Its survival makes it the oldest public building in the City of Chicago.

Inspired by the Celtic art exhibit at the Columbian Expostition of 1893 and the Book of Kells in Ireland, Thomas A. O’Shaughnessy designed, constructed, and personally installed the 15 beautiful stained-glass windows of Old St. Patrick’s between 1912 and 1922. The 12 side windows were inspired by the Celtic designs of Ireland’s Book of Kells. The final triptych windows, done in an art nouveau style and installed in the eastern facade of the church, are the “Faith, Hope & Charity” windows, also known as the Terrence MacSwiney Memorial Triptych. In 1977, Old St. Patrick’s was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 Old St. Patrick’s Church has stood at the western gateway of Chicago’s Loop for more than 150 years. Built seven generations ago, this old city Church, a treasure born of the immigrant dream, has welcomed hundreds of thousands of people through its doors who seek a deeper, richer experience of life.

 Today, Old St. Patrick’s is home to a membership of more than 3,000 households.

 

 (source)