Before and After: Sacred Heart FSSP Parish in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Continuing on with a bit of 'catch up' on some before and after photos LAJ has been sent, today I wanted to share with you another project executed by William Heyer Architect, Sacred Heart Parish in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  This before and after is a bit unique from some of our others insofar as this parish is a personal parish under the auspices of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. In that regard, what we are seeing is a "before" that is coming within the context of a fairly modern architectural paradigm, but which had been subsequently arranged for the usus antiquior. Let's begin by looking at the church as it stood in 2015.

BEFORE

Photo credit: Joe Romie

Photo credit: Joe Romie

Photo credit: Joe Romie

As you can see, the altar was freestanding and set upon a predella. A red backdrop was used behind the altar, which was certainly not a bad feature as it helped to frame the altar and wall crucifix. Certainly not 'bad' by any stretch but also clearly 'making do.' 

Now let us turn our attention to the church as it stood a year later, after the renovations had been completed. 

AFTER

Photo credit: Joe Romie

You will note that the original wall crucifix has been utilized, but its length decreased.

Photo credit: Joe Romie

In the after state you can see that the altar has been pushed back into a fixed position and a ciborium magnum has been added over it.  I have spoken enough over the years about the architectural benefits of the ciborium that I feel little needs to be said about it. Suffice it to say that the addition of a ciborium over an altar is almost always a worthy development for the reason that it emphasizes the centrality of the altar of sacrifice and the liturgical act which accomplishes it.

In the before scenario, the altar was relatively orphaned in the midst of the sanctuary; in the after, the ciborium magnum simultaneously anchors the altar by way of its substantiality, but also elevates it through its verticality. 

Photo credit: Joe Romie

While the altar and ciborium are the primary emphasis gain here, one detail to not miss is the woodwork that has been completed around the doors to either side of the high altar:

Photo credit: Joe Romie

In the before scenario you can see how these doors looked rather mundane -- almost unfinished afterthoughts. Combined with the block walls they had the look of doors you would expect to find in a cold industrial space rather than a church -- never mind the sanctuary.  

In the after scenario you can see that woodwork has been added around these doors, along with extensions above it to frame two pieces of statuary. I will say that better statuary in larger proportions would be desirable there, but as for the woodwork itself, it is truly excellent and you can see how they add to the beauty of the sanctuary. Rather than appearing as an unfinished eyesore as before, now they add to the beauty of the sanctuary and give an added symmetry to it, framing the high altar. 

Another excellent project from William Heyer Architect.