St. Thomas of Villanova Church
St. Thomas of Villanova Church | |
---|---|
Groundbreaking | March 29, 1883 |
Completed | 1887 |
Specifications | |
Number of spires | 2 |
Spire height | 137 ft (42 m) |
Administration | |
Diocese | Philadelphia |
Parish | St. Thomas of Villanova Parish Rosemont, Pennsylvania |
Clergy | |
Pastor(s) | Fr. Joseph Genito, OSA |
Laity | |
Director of music | Dr. Edward Latham |
St. Thomas of Villanova Church is a
History
The land on which the church and school sit was purchased from the Rudolph family by the Augustinians on October 13, 1841. The intent was to create a center of Augustinian life; an organized program of education for the priesthood, which became Villanova University; and an academy for Catholic boys, which now exists as Malvern Preparatory School. In 1843, Villanova College opened its doors for its first few classes, becoming the center of Augustinian life in the United States, a position it would retain for over 70 years.[1]
Ground was broken for the church on March 29, 1883. The cornerstone was laid on June 3, 1883, and blessed by Jeremiah F. Shanahan, Bishop of Harrisburg. The building project was begun under the leadership of the Augustinian provincial, Fr. Christopher McEvoy, O.S.A. along with the pastor, prior, and president of Villanova College, Fr. Joseph A. Coleman, O.S.A. The church was completed in 1887 under Reverend James J. Blake, O.S.A.[2]
The architect of the Gothic Revival church,
Fr. Thomas Middleton, an Augustinian historian, states in his 1893 account of the building of the church that Durang designed the building "façade with two towers, each 18 square feet and 63 feet high, surmounted by eight-sided spires.... Durang created a European-like interior, measuring 60 feet in breadth and 143 ½ feet in length, exclusive of the sacristy, [which includes a] prolongation of the sanctuary, terminating in a large deep apsidal choir for the use of the religious.... The interior woodwork is all of oak including the pews and the stalls in the choir for the fraternity. The choir is divided by six clustered columns supporting groined arches. The side aisles of the nave are divided into six bays, each 15 square feet, also with groined ceiling."[3]
The original church contained seven altars: four for the congregation, one in the side chapel of Our Lady of Good Counsel, and the other two in the retro choir. Standing in the center of the sacristy, the main altar was made of Italian polished marble with Indiana stone filigree screen. The altar had two tables and double tabernacles, one facing the congregation, and the other choir. It was not unusual for two masses to be said simultaneously. However, as the number of congregants increased, the filigree screen was removed to enable all to see the service.[2]
The church's interior was originally very ornate, in keeping with the taste of the times, including
First Renovation
In preparation for the 1943 centennial of Villanova University, a major renovation of the church was authorized by Augustinian Provincial, Reverend Fr. Sheehan, O.S.A. The décor of the church was changed and simplified, being repainted in tones of ecru and taupe.[2]
In the 1960s, novel liturgical fads posed a significant challenge to churches such as Villanova, as its
Second Renovation
While many emergency repairs had been made to the church throughout its existence, none addressed the larger problems of structural reinforcement,
Today the church is nearly entirely whitewashed on the interior, and lit by blue stained glass windows. Much of the original decoration has been preserved, although moved to different locations in the parish and campus. The windows enclosing the nave depict the life of St. Augustine.[2]
Today
The church today is the center of religious life of Villanova University and the parish of St. Thomas of Villanova. With Rosemont Chapel in nearby Rosemont, Pennsylvania, the parish hosts four weekend masses for the parishioners and three Sunday night masses for the students at the university, as well as daily masses at Corr Chapel on the university's campus.[4]
The Sunday night student-oriented masses are strengthened by the participation of Villanova University's Pastoral Musicians. The largest music group on campus, Pastoral Musicians boasts over 60 singers in the SATB choir, as well as over a dozen instrumentalists [5]
The church is also a popular site for student weddings, as well as for funerals for prominent members of the university.
References
- ^ The Augustinians, Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova Archived 2009-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. augustinian.org. Retrieved on August 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h St Thomas of Villanova Church Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine. villanova.edu. Retrieved on August 7, 2009.
- ^ a b Our Parish History Archived 2009-07-05 at the Wayback Machine stthomasofvillanova.org. Retrieved on August 8, 2009.
- ^ Worshiping at Villanova. villanova.edu. Retrieved on August 7, 2009.
- ^ Villanova University Pastoral Musicians. villanova.edu. Retrieved on August 7, 2009.
External links
- Territorial map of St. Thomas of Villanova and nearby parishes