Historic church offers visitors tours
BROWNSVILLE – During the National Road Festival, people celebrate the heritage of the area by reflecting on the men and women of the past who built its foundation. The Historic Church of St. Peter has its own dedicated people to honor: the 183 parishioners who in 1845 labored to build a stone church that has found a place on the National Registry of Historical Places. For this reason, the church offers tours each year in conjunction with the National Road Festival.
According to Elaine Malek, a coordinator of the tour, the church has offered tours for 10 years in a row for the festival, and will also offer tours upon request.
“Any group who would like a tour can call at any time to schedule one,” Malek said.
The unique church was built in what tour guide Lori Moncheck called gothic, which she said was popular in Europe during the period when the church was constructed.
In fact, she said the building is the American replica of the English Gothic Revival Parish Church in Liverpool, England.
Standing outside of the church, Moncheck pointed out the unusual cemetery surrounding it.
“This graveyard is rare with its unusual beauty and stately monuments,” Moncheck said. “You don’t often see a graveyard around a church anymore.”
Beside the church stood two large graves, which Moncheck said belonged to Monsignor James Shay, who served the parish for 25 years, longer than any other priest, and the Rev. Martin Brennan, who is recognized for renovations in the 1930s that kept the church from being torn down because of deplorable conditions.
Upon entering the church, one will see the original stone floor, which Moncheck said has never been renovated in all the years the church has been there.
At the front of the church, there is a detailed stained glass window, which Moncheck explained has a triangle representing the Trinity, and in front of that is a dove and the hands of God.
“This window was paid for by the Pennsylvania State Court Catholic Daughters of America during the renovations in the 1930s at the cost of $1,260,” Moncheck said.
Along the walls near the entrance of the church, Moncheck pointed out oak statues representing John the Baptist, St. Peter, and Michael the Arch Angel, all of which were carved by Frank Aretz from Pittsburgh in the 1930s.
Moncheck said a notable fact about the windows on the sides of the church is that they represent each Bishop the Catholic Church has had over the years, and they also depict the flowers of this area. She also noted that when the church was built, Brownsville was very prosperous.
“All the pews were built by parishioners and they made sure there was extra seating for the holidays,” explained Moncheck, reveling boards that slid out from under the seats to provide more room.
Another interesting feature about the church is a crypt that lies underneath, and has become famous for being the “only heated crypt in the country.”
“When Brownsville Catholic High School was across the street, the pipes from their heating system came into the crypt,” said Moncheck, noting that the crypt’s unusual feature was even show on Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
The stained glass window in front of the church may be the most intricately done, as it illustrates several scenes from the Bible.
“Here you see Christ walking on the water and calling Peter to step out in faith,” explained Moncheck.
“This window also depicts Peter carrying on the healing power of Christ. In the center of the window, Christ gives Peter the keys, and Peter is known as the first pope of the Catholic Church.”
In addition to the perfectly designed windows and interesting architecture, other unique features are found in the church including a “leper’s arch,” replicating the arch at the church in England once used for those infected with leprosy, an altar in honor of the Virgin Mary, and a narrow, spiraling stone staircase leading up to the choir loft, which Moncheck said the members of the choir still use each week.
Malek and Stacey Victor, another tour coordinator, said that although the building is full of interest, they don’t get as many visitors as they did when the wagon train came through Brownsville during the festival.
“Every year we’ve gotten less,” Malek said. “I think because people follow the wagon train. But we’ll continue to do it year after year.”