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Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Photos of Saint Mary's Church, in Trenton, Illinois

HERE ARE PHOTOS of Saint Mary's Church, in Trenton, Illinois. Located in western Clinton County, the church is about 32 highway miles due east of downtown Saint Louis, and is a part of the Diocese of Belleville.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - exterior

Founded in 1858 and originally known as the Parish of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this present parish church dates from 1953 and has an unusual transitional form between the traditional and modern styles.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - nave

The long, rectangular nave with flat roof is distinctive of ancient classical basilicas; the side-aisles and transept are distinctively Christian elements, symbolizing the Trinity and Cross.  This church is in the form of a Tau cross, with the sanctuary located largely within and not beyond the transept.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - altar triptych

Above the altar is this triptych, showing Cleopos and the other disciple, who met Our Lord on the road to Emmaus on the day of His resurrection, although they did not know Him. Eventually, they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13-35).

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - tabernacle

The tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and venerated.  Above the tabernacle is a tent-like canopy: the Latin word tabernaculum means ‘little hut’ or ‘tent’. In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was the tent where the Israelites kept the Ark of the Covenant.

On the front of the altar is a depiction of a the symbols of a fountain with birds. A fountain is a symbol of the source of grace, while birds are symbols of our souls, who owe their sustenance on the living waters.

The tabernacle itself has the symbol of the loaves and fishes from Matthew 14:13-21, a prefigurement of the Blessed Sacrament.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - 11th Station of the Cross
11th Station of the Cross: Consider Jesus, thrown down upon the cross, He stretched out His arms and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. They nailed His hands and feet, and then, raising the cross, left Him to die in anguish.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Carved bas-relief icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - stained glass window of fleur de lis

Stained glass window shows a fleur-de-lissymbol of Mary, the Trinity, the Kingdom of France, and others.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - stained glass window "Ave Maria Regina Coelis"

Ave Maria Regina Coelis.  Hail Mary Queen of Heaven.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - stained glass window with cross

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - baptistry

Confessional is in the former baptistery. Gate depicts a shell with three streams of water flowing from it.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - crucifix and Christmas tree in narthex

In the narthex is this large carved crucifixion scene, with the Virgin and Saint John flanking Christ Crucified.

These photos were taken on the eve of the First Sunday of Advent.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - mosaic of the Presentation

Above the door to the nave is this mosaic of Mary presenting Jesus at the Temple.

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - exterior front

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, in Trenton, Illinois, USA - sign

Click here for photos of other churches in Clinton County.

Address:
218 West Kentucky Street
Trenton, Illinois 62293

6 comments:

  1. not a single lit candle at Our Mother of Perpetual Help? This photo struck me as a co-worker and I were just discussing how years ago the votive candles always flicked at the side of church and now you rarely see someone slip along the side aisle to light and candle and pause in prayer.

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  2. Actually, a number of these candles were lit.

    You can't tell because the candle holders are made of metal and not glass.

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  3. I have a sneaking suspicion that this *could* be an Edward Schulte (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._Schulte) church. The elongated rood crucifix is a very characteristic feature of his churches. I'm sure the crucifix in your photo was originally over the altar. Schulte was a master at blending traditional and contemporary architectural styles, and it seems possible this could be one of his works.

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  4. Chase, that is interesting - I'd like to find out more about Schulte!

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  5. Unfortunately, you won't find much on him. Virtually nothing has been written about the man - even online! Some of his more high profile works include the Cathedrals in LaCrosse, WI, Salina, KS, and Lexington, KY, as well as the renovation of the Cincinnati Cathedral. I'm not sure if he has any churches in or near St. Louis.

    I was able to find this bit of information one one particular church online: http://campanileinthecornfield.blogspot.com/2008/01/edward-j-schulte.html

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  6. Chase,

    I think he deserves more investigation.... I found out that one of my correspondents knows something of him... so I'll dig deeper.

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