This article continues our series on the revival of sacred architecture that has arisen in the past decade, and features ten new Church designs, whether in concept phase or nearing completion in construction, all adhering to the rich, traditional design of centuries past. Our previous article, which highlighted church interior renovations, can be found here.
Phillip the Apostle, Lewisville, TX, McCrery Architects
Unable to serve the 10,000 members of its fast-growing parish, St. Phillip the Apostle parish has commissioned a new church construction, on its Lewisville campus. The church will draw on the Medieval country church style, and is designed by James McCrery. Learn more
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Tampa, FL, Duncan Stroik
A new 900-seat chapel for a Jesuit prep school in Florida draws on the great tradition of Jesuit architecture and will be a new focal point of the school’s expanding masterplan. The brick exterior has a limestone portico and is topped with an octagonal cupola. The centralized interior includes four shrines dedicated to Jesuit martyrs and an altarpiece above the main altar depicting the vision of Saint Ignatius at La Storta. The chapel will be completed in 2018. Learn more
Courtesy of Duncan Stroik
Courtesy of Duncan Stroik
Sacred Heart, Knoxville, TN, McCrery Architects,
This cathedral will serve as the focal point for the Diocese of Knoxville, with seating for 1,000 parishioners in a 25,000 square foot worship space. Learn more
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Mary Help of Christians, Aiken, SC, McCrery Architects,
Nearing completion, with just the addition of the bell tower remaining, this church is inspired by Renaissance architecture, and the churches of the very early Christian period. Learn more
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Holy Cross Church, Rumson, NJ McCrery Architects,
This project, which has neared completion, is an addition to and transformation of an historic wood-frame shingled church in Rumson. The current church is quite small and will be expanded by means of transept additions and extension of the nave. The interior will be turned 180 degrees so as to orient the Mass. Learn more
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Christ the King Chapel, Christendom College, Front Royal, VA O’Brien & Keane
This chapel will serve as the new spiritual home for the community of Christendom College in Front Royal, VA. From the Christendom College website: “The interior of the chapel will feature an elegant high altar at the center of a traditional cruciform structure. Above the altar will sit a commanding Gothic tower with refurbished historic bells.
The new bell tower and spires will rise out of the valley along the shores of the Shenandoah River on our campus. The Chapel will be visible from I-66, serving as a symbol of hope and beauty to all who travel the major interstate. Learn more
Courtesy of Christendom College
Courtesy of Christendom College
New Mount Carmel Monastery, Cody, WY, McCrery Architects
This French Gothic monastery will be nestled in the rugged mountains of Park County, Wyoming, serving as the home and sanctuary to the Carmelite Order and Mystic Monks Coffee. Lean more
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Courtesy of McCrery Architects
Our Lady of Good Voyage, Boston, MA Cram and Ferguson
This newly constructed chapel in Boston’s Seaport district will seat just over 200, with an interior in the wooden English Gothic style. The chapel will feature items salvaged from closed churches in the Boston Archdiocese, including stained glass windows and a Victorian era altar. Learn more
Courtesy of Cram and Ferguson
Courtesy of Cram and Ferguson
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC, O’Brien & Keane
The cathedral, which is nearing completion, will replace the current, smaller church, and will provide seating for over 2,000. The traditional cruciform design will feature custom marble liturgical furnishings, rendered in Bianco Carrara and Giallo Siena. Learn more
Courtesy of O’Brien and Keane
Courtesy of O’Brien and Keane
Pius X, Granger, IN, Alliance Architects
Designed in the traditional Romanesque style, with emphasis on a centralized tabernacle, this church will accommodate 1,300 souls. Learn more
Courtesy of Alliance Architects
Courtesy of Alliance Architects
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I used to attend St Phillip in Lewisville. It was a modernist monstrosity. It looked like the atrium of a hotel rather than a church. Glad to see the new building progress. I knew things would be good when they started posting Denis McNamara videos on their website
Came here to say this very thing. I lived just down the street from St. Phillip’s for 13 years, just when they built that monstrosity. Typically drove to St. Ann’s in Coppell because of all the abuses at St. Phillip’s. So happy to see this development.
Franciscan University of Steubenville http://carapellarchitecture.com/portfolio/franciscan-university-steubenville/
This was only a proposition and I don’t believed that were accepted at the final architectural firm choice. I could be wrong, but I don’t think i am.
True: I was invited, by father Richard Davis, with other 3 firms to propose a design (2 firms were from Pittsburgh).
I was trying to propose a true Franciscan Architecture (I am an Italian architect) design with some pittsburghese influence.
I was the only architect to point to the fact that the Franciscan university problem it is not only the lack of a real Cathedral but rather the lack of a rational planning. I proposed also a series of small and larger squares to create a urban environment around the new church
No firm proposal have been selected…but I do receive a lot of e-mails of appreciation of my work.
this is Carmine Carapella AIA of Carapella architecture. Thank you for mentioning my work.
You are very welcome, and many thanks for your great design! Deal Hudson
http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/new-novena-church-surprises-many-grand-look
Don’t forget to take a look at the beautifull new SSPX seminary that is near completion: http://www.newseminaryproject.org/sketches/
“altar” not “alter”
I can’t find the mistake, is it still there? Deal
The Catholic Church has received a good bit of criticism over the years, but it has done much to improve the world. From saving thousands of refugees and helping so many in crisis, to encouraging beautiful buildings, the Church has had a positive affect on the world in recent times.
I don’t see any of these New Churches having a Altar Rail.
http://www.bisoncatholic.org/maps
and yet another one at North Dakota State University – Fargo, ND
The Carmelite hermits both in Texas and Minnesota will be building chapels soon. The hermits in Minnesota are nearly half way completed for their construction which will be done under Duncan G. Stroik Architect, LLC (http://www.carmelitehermitage.org/Site/Chapel/). The hermits in Texas also have their chapel designed by Mr. Stroik (http://www.carmelitehermits.org/Chapel_Fundraising.htm). Stroik recently renovated another Carmel in Traverse City, Michigan for a community of nuns (http://www.stroik.com/portfolio/monastery-of-the-infant-jesus-of-prague).
The FSSP at St. Joan of Arc’s parish in Coeur D’Alene Idaho are in the process of building a church in neighboring Post Falls, Idaho. I’m praying God will help my wife and I move our family up there successfully.
Professor Duncan Stroik, Notre Dame Univ., Ind. , visited Philadelphia during the World Meeting of Families and spoke on departure from modernism and renewal of tradition in American architecture and his own practice . He expounded on the Church patronage (hierarchy and faithful) expecting an outcrop of original work if conditions arise. Please follow his quarterly publication “Sacred Architectrure.
Mother Angelica’so Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament should get mention if we are talking about a revival. She was one of the first with this prophetic vision. And we cannot forget the awesome permanence of the Monastery of the Monks at Clear Creek Abbey: https://clearcreekmonks.org/abbey/construction/
Where are these Roman Catholic Churches’ ALTAR RAILS? You need the altar rail to properly celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass not just the Novus Ordo. These new church buildings should be built to take into account BOTH rites.
Lets get this fixed.
Why settle for altar rails — an early-modern Jesuit innovation — when you could just restore chancels and build rood screens?
It’s not unheard of these days, either. The Ordinariate Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston just installed a beautiful rood screen last year that is a huge upgrade from a simple altar rail.
The Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph currently in Elysburg PA broke ground last summer for a new convent–http://www.friendsofcarmeljmj.org/future-plans/architectural-rendering
https://stfrancisxavierstillwater.org/building-update
Holy Cross Church in Rumson, NJ was actually finished a couple of years ago. If you Google it you can find pictures of the completed building.