Recently Conrad Schmitt Studios revealed a project they pursued at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Somerset, Wisconsin which we're happy to feature here today as part of our 'Before and After' series. The origins of the parish go back 150 years, having been founded by French Canadians in the early 1850's. The current church is the result of successive decades of growth, having been built in 1916 in a Romanesque revival style by the architect Emmanuel Masqueray.
As was so often the case, the parish underwent alterations in the latter part of the twentieth century, which brings us to the 'before':
As you can see, originally there would have been a high altar with reredos, with niches to either side for side altars -- the typical arrangement of the period. These were removed. Quite likely there was more decorative work than what we see here -- though this is purely speculative as unfortunately a 'before the before' photo hasn't been forthcoming.
BEFORE:
Regardless, this now brings us to the 'after,' the result of the church's engagement of Conrad Schmitt Studios.
AFTER:
A marked improvement to say the least. Aside from restoring a greater sense of symmetry and order to the sanctuary, accomplished particularly by means of the new altar of sacrifice, altar of reservation and side altars/shrines, the addition of the fresco in the apse, depicting God the Father as the ancient of days, along with the other stencilling and details that highlight the architecture while also adding colour and ornamentally, help to unite the whole. The end result is a far more beautiful and noble liturgical space.
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