Saturday, August 25, 2007

St. Paul, Norwalk

I always try to find something good to say about a church interior. Since this morning's posting, I've recieved more pictures of St. Paul's. Good? Well, they didn't rip out the vaulting and put in a drop ceiling. They left the lighting fixtures in place instead of replacing them with plastic mushrooms. A few good statues were left in place, rather than being hauled off to the rubbish bin. That's about it.
I'm going to be nice and assume all these frou-frou draperies were there for a trailer park wedding. You'll notice a big empty choir loft. I suppose if you want to deny the crucifixion, which seems to be the point of placing that vintage 60's hippie, with arms outstretched, over the altar, the choir loft must seem like a good place to hide the crucifix.
They do have an organ. I simply fail to understand the reasoning behind putting it upfront and blocking windows. With all that bloody orange the place needs all the extra light it can get. I pray most of the congregation is color blind.
Oh, yes, they spared two of the original windows, in the sanctuary. The rest were replaced with something that rather reminds me of a harem. Actually, that, and the orange and the draperies and the hippy over the altar make me think of what this interior looks like. It looks exactly like a 60's hippy's wildest fantasy of a perfect place to smoke hash. Which leads to the inevitable question. WHAT THE HELL WERE THESE PEOPLE SMOKING?

10 comments:

Alex Fries said...

*correction. Three orignial windows...plus several small ones in the sacristy. But those ones dont' count. Oh...to piss you off even more. Most of the colors in the new "parish center" are of fall colors (orange, dark red, whites, and ugly yellow couches that don't match...but were donated cause St. Pauls can't buy anything by themselves...i'll stop there)

Jeffrey Smith said...

Well. That's just what it looks like. I'm a 60's survivor, after all.
How, in the name of Carrie's blessed corset could it look worse?

Alex Fries said...

oh, Kyle...and how about those florencent (spelling) lights and drop ceiling they got going on under the balcony? They can really drive one nuts really fast.

Alex Fries said...

You might just have to go there and take a look for yourself, Jeff. But bring the EMS with you, and you might need them.

Jeffrey Smith said...

I noticed the third one hiding behind the lead in Godspell, after I posted. Didn't have the energy to correct it yet.
Fall colors can be beautiful, in nature. In furniture they can be beautiful in moderation. This, however, is the most unnatural monstrosity I've ever seen.

Jeffrey Smith said...

For once, I'm grateful not to have a vehicle.

Pro Ecclesia said...

All I'll add to this discussion is that the other parish in Norwalk, St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer, is a great parish. The interior is beautiful despite some very minor wreckovation (which could be quite easily rectified). Visitors and newcomers to Norwalk should check us out.

Jeffrey Smith said...

Just type "St. Mary, Norwalk" in the box at the top of the page, click on "search" and you'll see plenty of evidence.

Alex Fries said...

thanks Jay. May i add that you new comers check out the website!! www.stmarynorwalk.org

mlec91283 said...

It doesn't look like it would take much to make this church look decent. The top priority would be getting rid of those windows and install more historically correct ones. Perhaps the originals are in storage? Does anyone know? The altar could easily be fixed - remove the resurrection statue, place the crucifix and the tabernacle, and it would be fine. The color scheme needs to go, as well, and recently we renovated our church and repainting and replastering only cost around $400,000, which, by what my relatives tell me, is pocket change considering the expensive projects Saint Paul undertakes. With that in mind, they could well afford to renovate the church and buy the right windows if the originals are no longer in existence. And P.S. - they should put the organ back. It looks ridiculous and violates the integrity of the church structure and worship space.