It is Friday. My first week back to school is done and my daughter has not gone back to school yet. Just coming back from vacation, I had a ton of stuff to do this morning. Lots of small little errands. And so, early birds rose and went out. Stop here, stop there and then...what is that? I have literally driven on East Liberty Blvd. a kagillion times on my way to work, school, friends' homes. It was my route from Stanton Heights to Squirrell Hill. But I guess recently they had demolished some old housing or a building and standing right behind it, on Larimer Avenue in E Liberty was this church. It was magnificent.
We finished our errands, but on the way back, I detoured away from our normal Washington Blvd. route home to stop by. The neighborhood was quiet, peaceful, land was being cleared for new housing, I am not sure. We parked right next to the park next to the church and off we went. We passed a couple local residents; puppy tongues wagging, babies smiling. I love this cooler weather. Everyone and everything is so much happier. We first explored around a home next to the church. It was magnificent. The brick work was detailed and showed quite some advanced craftsmanship. We then walked to the front of the church. Gates wide open, vines taking over exposed brick and shattered windows. We walked up. We both kind of stopped right under the door. We just looked up. Tiles from the roof were missing, windows were broken, but the large stained glass circular window was still in tact. I kind of wondered what it looked like to be sitting inside on a Sunday sunny morning and see that sun light the interior.
We ventured closer to the door. These doors were magnificent in themselves. The wood detail and handles were quite unique and showed years of congregational use. How many people said their vows there? How many hymns sung by those who made this artistic chapel their place of worship?
There was a hole in the door where someone must have broken or tried to break in. We peered through and saw this gothic, unbelievably HUGE interior, hollowed out, lit by one remaining stained glass window. I have to be honest, I wanted to go around back to see if I could break in more. I wanted to stand right smack dab in the middle and look up, marvel in the vast emptiness that once was filled with so much love, joy and faith. I told the man of the house about this gem we happened to stumble upon and he wants to check it out too so we will go back. Maybe we will go in, say our own prayer for those that cherished this holy space. Until then, I sit and smile in knowing the past of this historic landmark still echos in those walls.
We finished our errands, but on the way back, I detoured away from our normal Washington Blvd. route home to stop by. The neighborhood was quiet, peaceful, land was being cleared for new housing, I am not sure. We parked right next to the park next to the church and off we went. We passed a couple local residents; puppy tongues wagging, babies smiling. I love this cooler weather. Everyone and everything is so much happier. We first explored around a home next to the church. It was magnificent. The brick work was detailed and showed quite some advanced craftsmanship. We then walked to the front of the church. Gates wide open, vines taking over exposed brick and shattered windows. We walked up. We both kind of stopped right under the door. We just looked up. Tiles from the roof were missing, windows were broken, but the large stained glass circular window was still in tact. I kind of wondered what it looked like to be sitting inside on a Sunday sunny morning and see that sun light the interior.
We ventured closer to the door. These doors were magnificent in themselves. The wood detail and handles were quite unique and showed years of congregational use. How many people said their vows there? How many hymns sung by those who made this artistic chapel their place of worship?
There was a hole in the door where someone must have broken or tried to break in. We peered through and saw this gothic, unbelievably HUGE interior, hollowed out, lit by one remaining stained glass window. I have to be honest, I wanted to go around back to see if I could break in more. I wanted to stand right smack dab in the middle and look up, marvel in the vast emptiness that once was filled with so much love, joy and faith. I told the man of the house about this gem we happened to stumble upon and he wants to check it out too so we will go back. Maybe we will go in, say our own prayer for those that cherished this holy space. Until then, I sit and smile in knowing the past of this historic landmark still echos in those walls.