Church installs artistic wall for a practical purpose
Parishioners of St. Therese de Lisieux Roman Catholic Church in Uniontown are overwhelmed by the exquisite new look of their sanctuary with the installation of a wall behind the altar that is a stunning one-of-a-kind work of art. The Rev. Kenneth Zaccagnini said he went to the back of the church early for Masses during Mother’s Day weekend, when the new look was unveiled, to witness people’s reactions.
“They were happy. A lot of people’s mouths dropped. There were tears in their eyes,’ the pastor said. “People were telling me how beautiful it is. They were very appreciative.’
Zaccagnini added, “I felt good not only because the wall was done but because of the parishioners. This is a beautiful wall, and it enhances the spiritual life of the parish.’
The wall, created by R.A. Colby Inc. of Johnson City, Tenn., measures 15 feet high by 50 feet wide and emphasizes the themes of earth and sky. It features intricate panels of exotic woods as well as a new crucifix in the center and end niches for statues of Mary and Joseph.
The wall is actually an organ case behind which are hidden 56 speakers for the church’s new organ. In fact, the project began with the idea to purchase a new organ. But the idea for the wall developed when it was discovered that speakers for the new organ would not fit behind the curtains at the back of the altar, which hid the old speakers.
Zaccagnini suggested something be done that looked like the candle room in the vestibule of the church. He talked to Alan E. Sterner of A.E. Sterner Company in Youngwood, who contacted Colby Inc., which logged 8,000 hours to build the wall in their studio in Tennessee. The wall was then disassembled and trucked to the parish at 61 Mill St. in Uniontown. Employees worked for three weeks to reassemble the wall and bring in the A.E. Sterner Opus 18, four-manual, 85-rank, custom digital organ. The digital components were made by Walker Technical Co. from Zionsville. The cost of the project was $130,000 for the organ and $254,000 for the wall.
The wall is made of several kinds of exotic woods as well as 3,000 pounds of clay, and is estimated to weigh at least 3 to 4 tons. The focal point is a new crucifix that includes a cross that stands 14 feet high and a 10-foot, hand-carved wooden figure of Christ, reproduced from a 4-foot-tall sculpture used in the former church building.
The left end niche contains a statue of Mary called “Blessed Virgin,’ which was purchased for the church in 2002 by St. Therese Boosters from the Tonini Church Supply Co. of Louisville, Ky. The sculpture was hand-carved from linden wood by artisans in Ortisie, Italy. The church purchased a sculpture of St. Joseph last September from Tonini that now rests in the right end niche.
The side niche, located in the left side of the church, is a continuation of the wall and now holds the tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. The outside walls are new, but the second panels are original and inspired the end panels of the organ case on the altar. Alabaster statues of St. Therese and St. Anthony flank the tabernacle, and four pews have been turned to face the tabernacle to create a reservation chapel.
A dedication of the new organ will be scheduled for this fall.