Status: Active, Catholic

Also Known As: de Sales, St. Francis

Founded: 1890
Construction: 1907

47th Street & Springfield Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143

http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/parishes/7830.htm

http://www.saintfrancisdesales.net/main.html

The Project returns to West Philadelphia to tackle the first of the “Three Francises.” Confused? Alright, hit it:

Church Project Theorem #8: The Three Francises
(AKA: The Francis Triangle)

The “Francis Triangle” refers to the three Philadelphia parishes that bear the name St. Francis; Germantown’s St. Francis of Assisi, Spring Garden's St. Francis Xavier, and, of course, West Philly’s St. Francis de Sales. When you plot their locations, they form a triangle. To be exact, an oblique triangle measuring roughly 135, 25 and 20 degrees.

(All apologies to MSN LiveSearch)

What is one to make of this? Several conclusions spring to mind:

1. Their locations are predetermined and designed to form a mystical, triangular region of immense power. When the stars are in alignment, they will raise a Super St. Francis, who will either wreck havoc on the land or cover it with rainbows.
2. Their locations are completely random and represent no coordinated attempts at sorcery. And, certainly, no attempts to reanimate dead saints.
3. I need a life.

Any combination of the above might be true, or maybe none of it is true. Why, then, do I bother bringing it up? Remember, the Project is here first and foremost to educate. When that fails, we’ll settle for clogging your brain with silly hearsay and conjecture. Of course, if it turns out to be true, don’t forget that you heard it here first.

Anyway, St. Francis de Sales is not only the first angle of this unholy triangle, but it’s also a most remarkable church, and one of the best ones Philadelphia has to offer. It boasts a unique, Byzantine-style design based on Istanbul's St. Sophia, with white brick construction and a large emphasis on circles and domes. Inside, it’s a veritable tour-de-force, with a breathtaking open expanse highlighted by soaring arches and vaults, and intricate brickwork.

Indeed, its brick decor reminds you somewhat of Immaculate Conception and, to a lesser extent, St. Martin of Tours. It even uses the same red-gold color scheme that Immaculate does, and even if it doesn’t quite match the former’s vastness, it bests it in ornamentation, adding intricate molding on those arches and vaults. And, it features an altar that’s one of the best of we’ve seen. It’s not quite the crazy marble beast of John the Baptist, but it’s stunning nonetheless.

Boasting a unique, world-class design, this is a real knockout.

Size Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Ornamentation Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Overall Design Rating: 9.5 out of 10 crosses

I’m not a fan of driving around West Philly, although University City is fairly interesting. The church is pretty easy to find, and it’s even easier to park.

The area exceeded my expectations by not being a total disaster. I call that a victory.

Safety Rating: 7.5 out of 10 tire irons.

St. Francis de Sales has its own page on Wikipedia. Oh yes, that’s correct. Wikipedia. You can find it here. Not that it isn’t deserving of the attention, but I didn’t think local parish churches rated their own articles. Hmmm, maybe the Project should get a piece of this action.