O'Brien and Keane, an architectural firm based in Northern Virginia and Maryland, recently shared with LAJ, news of a new church project they were involved with in Spotsylvania, Virginia:
After years of worshipping in temporary repurposed facilities, including a funeral parlor and motorcycle sales showroom, the parishioners of St. Jude Catholic Church had secured donations needed to build a new church. They challenged O’Brien & Keane to design a structure that was not only immediately recognizable as a Catholic church but also employed the architecture to embody Catholic beliefs. We responded with a traditional design rooted in the Church’s rich legacy of sacred architectural expression. Commanding the highest ground of the site, the façade is inspired by medieval precedents and strives to impart a noble presence. Within, the architectural language remains consistent, and is composed as a progression of spaces of increasing solemnity. The sequence culminates at the sanctuary platform, and the marble furnishings designed by O’Brien & Keane and crafted in Italy. The church is laid out in a traditional cruciform shape, has a seating capacity of approximately 730 congregants, and features a choir loft located above the entry narthex. On the floor below is a multi-purpose room for fellowship and education activities as well as parish administrative offices. A 60-foot-tall bell tower, a rose window, and three arched portals mark the entry of the church.
 |
| The main altar |
 |
| Ambo / Lectern |
 |
| Detail of the altar rail / balustrade |
 |
| The font |
-------
Do you like Liturgical Arts Journal's original content? You can help support LAJ in its mission and vision to promote beauty in Catholic worship either by:
You choose the amount! Your support makes all the difference.
