We read about church of the advocate significantly before we actually went to visit. We were let in to the actual chapel late in the day on Monday. Impressed is an understatement. The inside of the church is gigantic.
It has several different sections, each of which has a wall covered in a different mural. Most impressive are a series that document the Civil Rights Movement, we’ve read that the original artists still enjoy coming and talking about the pieces. There are a series of others that we need a little more clarifying, such as one that appears to be a man with a gun, shooting the devil, but these are none the less fantastic view. The stained glass windows that cast a dim light over the entire space are just beautiful. There is a huge one right on the front of the building that is simply composed of multi colored squares, no picture created, but still the prettiest part of the church.
The church’s architect is Charles Burns, who is recognized as one of the most prominent architects in the late 19th and 20th century. It’s amazing that a structure like this stands in the neighborhood of North Central, but none the less exciting to see. It was the first church in the area to be built on such a grand scale, specifically for the working class. I’m glad it’s still in wonderful condition today.
Leeann Hamilton and Jeff Craven, Group 16, North Central Philadelphia
No comments:
Post a Comment