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The Church of the Immaculate Conception on the motherhouse grounds of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is a large Italian Renaissance Revival-style church constructed of Indiana limestone at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. The cathedral-like structure, which is the fourth church/chapel of the Sisters of Providence since their arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840. Construction for the church began in 1886; its exterior was completed in 1891 and the interior was completed in 1907. The church was consecrated on October 23, 1907, and continues to serve as a place of daily worship services that are open to the public. The church also houses the shrine and tomb of Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel (1905) was erected in the crypt beneath the church. The church's interior was renovated in 1986, but the sanctuary retains much of its early decoration, including Georgian marble columns, Numidian marble walls, a semi-dome ceiling, Stations of the Cross, stained glass windows, religious paintings by Tadeusz Żukotyński, a sculpture by Harry Breen, and other works of art. Its Casavant Frères pipe organ dates from 1953. Carrara marble from the reredos (high altar) was used to create an altar, lectern, and a presider's chair in 1986. ==History== When the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods arrived in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana in 1840, there was no church on the site, and a log cabin served as its first chapel. Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, the foundress of the order, described the primitive chapel to friends in France, "The Church! Yes, dear friends, that is the dwelling of the God of the Universe, in comparison with which the stables wherein you shelter your cattle are palaces!" The log chapel was dismantled in 1853. The second chapel, a room in the new Providence motherhouse (1853), served the Sisters of Providence until 1863, when a simple frame chapel designed by Indianapolis architect Diedrich A. Bohlen was completed. Although Bohlen's frame chapel was large, capable of seating 300 people, it was only intended to be a temporary structure until a more substantial church could be erected at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. From the time of her arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Saint Mother Guérin hoped to establish a new church to honor the Immaculate Conception. Prior to her death in 1856, she began to gather materials to use in its construction, but the church was not built during her lifetime.〔 The Italian Renaissance Revival-style structure is the fourth church/chapel of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods since 1840. It serves as the focal point for daily worship and devotion at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Other nearby places for prayer include the Saint Anne Shell Chapel (1876), the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (1924), and Our Lady of Providence Shrine (1990) in Providence Center, among others. Diedrich A. Bohlen, founder of the architectural firm of D.A. Bohlen and Son of Indianapolis, Indiana, designed the Indiana limestone church. Construction began in 1886,〔 under the leadership of general superior Mother Euphrasie Hinkle. Its cornerstone was laid the same year. Although a fire destroyed the Providence motherhouse in 1889, the church, which was already under construction, was damaged but not destroyed.〔 Noted architect Oscar D. Bohlen continued work on the project after his father, Diedrich, died in 1890. The church's exterior was completed in 1891; however, it took sixteen additional years before the interior was fully furnished. By June 1892 the plasterwork was completed and installation of temporary wooden flooring, seats, and altars permitted the sisters to worship in the unfinished church.〔 An organ from William Schuelke Church Organ Builder of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was purchased in 1902; it was later replaced.〔〔 "By 1902, the General Council, under the leadership of General Superior Mother Mary Cleophas Foley, focused its attention on the interior decoration of the church."〔 Mother Mary Cleophas and General Councilor Sister Mary Alma O'Donald, who traveled to Europe to visit numerous churches and gather ideas, were inspired by the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy, and the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Paris, among others. Soon after the two sisters returned to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, artisans and craftsmen were employed to decorate the church's interior.〔〔 The completed church was consecrated on October 23, 1907, in a celebration attended by religious dignitaries, including Francis Silas Chatard, Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis.〔〔 Under the leadership of General Superiors Sister Anne Doherty and Sister Nancy Nolan, the church's interior was renovated in 1986 to conform with liturgical changed that were adopted after the Second Vatican Council and to strengthen the church's floor joists.〔 Melvin B. G. Meyer, principal architect at Bohlen, Meyer, Gibson and Associates, served as the project architect.〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Church of the Immaculate Conception (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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