The last time the Project went to the greater Spring Garden / Fairmount area, I was treated to the excruciatingly-just-short-of-perfect St. Francis of Xavier. Now, though, I’ve returned to see the area’s other church, the Lithuanian parish of St. Andrew. Would the sequel be just as good? Or is it true that nothing tops the original?
St. Andrew is an interesting church because it actually used to be Protestant. The parish's plans to build their own church were waylaid because of the Great Depression, so instead, in 1942, they bought this building and converted it to their use. Catholics borrowing a building from the Protestants? How ridiculous!
Structurally, it’s smallish church that’s a little grungy and very rough around the edges; the front rose window is missing a couple of panels, the other windows have minor chipping damage, and the door arches out front show glaring signs of recent painting / renovation.
Despite not looking particularly well-cared for, and despite featuring white plaster and wooden ceiling beams, St. Andrew has some interesting things going for it. The most notable is a very lovely sanctuary and apse that’s almost entirely surrounded by a gigantic mural. That’s right! Why bother with little pictures when you can decorate the whole wall? There’s some additional work on the ceiling—which really reminds me of the soon-to-be-doomed one at Sacred Heart of Jesus—but the gigantic front mural is the star here.
Speaking of the sanctuary, the color and ornamentation is really pretty fantastic, especially with a rarely seen reddish-gold marble. If they’d kept the same motif throughout the rest of the church, I might honestly be putting it in the upper echelon. Still, what’s there is pretty cool.
LOOK FOR IT: The organ pipes are not set in one bank, as is customary, but are separated into two equal banks that flank the rose window. Kind of an interesting effect.
Too much white plaster and wood makes the Project an unhappy boy. Fortunately, some other touches more than make up for it.
Size Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Ornamentation Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Overall Design Rating: 7.5 out of 10 crosses
