Surveying Church Architects of the Savannah Diocese Ou Will Not Always Find Their Names in Church Histories Or in Newspaper Articles Written About Ynew Churches
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Thursday, April 13, 2006 FEATURE Southern Cross, Page 3 Surveying church architects of the Savannah Diocese ou will not always find their names in church histories or in newspaper articles written about Ynew churches. Many times, their identity seems to disappear somewhere between the drafting table and the dust of construction. Without them and their careful planning, well-designed churches could not be raised up to the glory of God. Obscure or prominent, they are the architects who have designed church buildings in the Diocese of Savannah since its inception. Histories of prominent churches throughout ville, dedicated in 1933 and now in the Arch- the diocese will usually yield information about diocese of Atlanta, was designed by famous architects who designed them. Of equal or more priest-architect, Father Michael McInerny, OSB. importance are designers of smaller churches The plan of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, that meet the needs of parishes in more Savannah, was the handiwork of the same remote or less densely Catholic areas. A priest, a talented regional architect. Nor recent issue of The Southern Cross was Father McInerny the only religious (March 30, 2006) recorded the dedica- to design churches in Georgia. Brother tion of a new, 450-seat church for Saint Cornelius Otten, SJ, is listed on the Bibb Paul parish in Douglas. Architect County Web site of the National Mackey Saunders of SRJ Architects of Register of Historical Places as “the Albany designed this new church. Earlier, architect, builder or engineer” responsible in 1938, Savannah architect Cletus W. for the design of Macon’s beautiful Rita H. DeLorme Bergen’s design for a Catholic church in Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church. In Sa- Douglas was implemented during the episcopate vannah, Father John A. Morris—son of a of Bishop Gerald P. O’Hara. carpenter—designed Nativity of Our Lord Architect Bergen’s career spanned many years Catholic Church, completed in 1946 and dedi- and a variety of buildings. Notable among these cated in 1947. structures are Savannah’s historically significant E. Francis Baldwin and Albert S. Eichberg courtesy of Joseph Bergen Photo Charity Hospital and Drayton Towers Apart- A survey of several nineteenth-century Sa- Cletus Bergen ments, and numerous Catholic schools and vannah churches reveals that both the Cathedral Catholic churches in the Diocese of Savannah. churches of the diocese. Considered “the dean of of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Patrick’s Designed by Major John Rudolph Niernsee, who Savannah architects,” Cletus Bergen graduated Church shared the talents of architect E. Francis also formulated plans for the State House of from Benedictine Military School and Georgia Baldwin, who was born in New York and raised South Carolina, the church is rich in architectur- Tech and saw military service in World War I. In in Baltimore. Baldwin and his associate, Bruce al detail and elegant furnishings. The Web site of 1927, at thirty years of age, he was the youngest Price, initiated work on the Cathedral’s design, Most Holy Trinity Church notes that “the church Grand Marshal ever of the Saint Patrick’s Day but—after Price left the firm in 1873—it was is a classic example of the Early Romanesque Parade. Almost 40 years later, in 1966, Arch- Baldwin who saw the project to its 1876 com- Revival style of church architecture, with bishop Thomas J .McDonough, then bishop of pletion. Solely the work of Baldwin, Saint smooth, broad exterior wall surfaces.” Its cor- the Diocese of Savannah, speaking at Bergen’s Patrick’s Church—solid, brick and debt-free— nerstone was laid on July 19, 1857 and the funeral, recalled the Savannah architect’s devo- was dedicated on March 17, 1882. Seven years church was consecrated on April 12, 1863. tion and service to the church. later, the cornerstone of Saint Benedict the Moor Henry D. Dagit and Benjamin P. Ritzert Walter T. Downing and William H. Parkins Catholic Church, the design of architect Albert Reflecting a later era are Blessed Sacrament Many other architects besides Cletus Bergen S. Eichberg, was set into place at East Broad Church and Saint Frances Cabrini Church, have been responsible for the planning of Street and Gaston Lane in Savannah. Although Savannah. Erected during World War II, Blessed churches in the diocese. In Atlanta, at that time this church was later replaced by another one, Sacrament owed its design to the highly success- part of the Diocese of Savannah, builders of the several other buildings designed by Eichberg ful Philadelphia firm of Henry D. Dagit and Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus followed a and his partner Calvin Fay still stand in the city. Sons. A combination church and school struc- plan devised by Walter T. Downing when the Daniel Foley and Ted Szutowicz ture, this 1942-vintage building replaced a church was constructed in 1898. Born in Boston, The Church of the Holy Family in Columbus, smaller, wooden church erected in 1921. Lo- Downing eventually opened an Atlanta office reflecting Gothic-Byzantine influence, was cated further south in Savannah, Benjamin P. and proceeded to design many well-known designed by Irish architect, Daniel Foley. This Ritzert, originator of designs for many Catholic buildings there. Another Atlanta church, the church, dedicated in 1890, supplanted one built churches, planned an all-purpose building for Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, was in 1835 and originally known as the Church of Saint Frances Cabrini Parish on Middleground designed by William H. Parkins and built 1873- Saints Philip and James. Father Michael Culli- Road. Dedicated in 1970 with potential for 1880. This church helped establish New York- nan, who served as pastor of Saints Philip and future growth a consideration, the building born Parkins as a leading Georgia architect. James Church, is interred in the grounds east of served as a church until it was converted into the Priestly and religious architects the main entrance of Holy Family Church. parish hall upon completion of a permanent Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Gaines- Another Columbus church, the Church of Saint church in the 1980s. Benedict the Moor, dedicated in 1961, owed its Since the early days of the diocese, church plans to architect Ted Szutowicz. A parish histo- architects have helped fulfill the premise of “if TV Mass Schedule ry describes the church’s construction as being you build it, they will come.” To this day, they “in a laminated arch style that is beautiful and continue to formulate plans envisioned by AUGUSTA practical.” The late Sister Julian Griffin, VSC, church leaders and congregations of the Diocese Sunday, 10:00 a.m. WAGT-TV founder of the Office of African-American of Savannah. Their contribution to the prolifera- Catholics, came from Saint Benedict’s parish tion of Catholicism continues to be crucial. and took her religious vows at the church. SAVANNAH Major John Rudolph Niernsee Columnist RITA H. DELORME Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Cable 7 Augusta’s historic Church of the Most Holy is a volunteer in the Diocesan Sunday, 5:30 a.m. WTOC-TV Trinity ranks today as one of the oldest standing Archives. She can be reached at [email protected]..