Gothic revival church

St Francis of Assisi -A  Gothic revival church built in Staunton Virginia in the late 1880's for the growing population of Irish catholics.
Thomas J Collins, a parishioner was the architect.

Such a beauty sitting up high on  a hill in town, to bad the power lines are so visible at my standpoint.

 

The tracery that surrounds the circular window of the assenion of Christ into heaven is in petal design.  In 1898 the window cost a large sum of $800.00.

 

 

 

In 1895 it's double cornerstone was laid by the bishop of Richmond - Augustine Van Devyver.

The  1850 date cornerstone  commemorates an earlier structure which foundation is beneath the floor the present structure.

A local newspaper reporting on the dedication of the church in 1897 ,  describes the style  of the building as English Gothic.

Pointed arches ,  characteristic of the Gothic style.   The spiritual goal of this style is to lead one to reach towards the heights of heavens.

View from top of steps

Pennsylvania ashlar greenstone was transported to Staunton by rail from chester county, Pennsylvania.

A story told is that Collins was encouraged by his wife to honor the native homeland of the majority of it's parishioners.

The steeple contains a large cast iron bell

The bell today electrically sounds the Angelus - 8, 12 and 6pm on weekdays and announces mass on the weekend

Facing west is the main entry where the sun sets.

The east end is the altar facing Jerusalem as also the rising sun.

 

 

 

 

Drawing the worshipper to enter "the portals of heaven" is the cast masonry that flows out from the doors is in the medievel gothic style.

 

The Ascension window upon departing affirms  that  we take with us Christ promise of eternal life

 

The church design is that of a Bascilica , and is also oriented to the points of a compass, both traditions of the early christians

 

 

reflection in stained glass

 

 

outside near the Adoration chapel entrance is an Italian marble statue of the Virgin and child.

At the crowning of Mary each may,  parishioners bring flowers here.

 

 

A prayer garden built in honor of "Our Lady of Guadalupe".

Patron saint of the unborn

 

 

 

 

Looking towards the Adoration entrance

 

 

 

From the top steps is a partial view of other church steeples rising above the landscape

 

Hopefully I will be able to plan a trip when a tour is available to see the inside.

A very interesting site that I obtained info about the Church is found here stfrancisparish.org/tour1.html

 

I am sharing with Inspired Sunday

 

 

 

Home front

The lavender is pretty now and ready for me to pick to make sachets  and lavender lemonade.  
It will keep blooming for me til the end of summer.

I like the taste of lavender in cookies . 
I have read that applying products containing lavender oil is not safe for young boys as it seems to disrupt the normal hormones in a boys body.   I have seen some home made products for diaper rash made from lavender oil and I would not use it on little boys,  the safety of using on little girls is not known.   I hear that to be on the safe side that pregnant or nursing moms shouldn't use it either.
I don't use the oil myself.      

a vase full of lavender

a hanging vegetable basket I lined with coconut fiber and you can see the plants starting to grow through it,  I hope it fills it all in.

chocolate mint I have growing in a pot.   I have baked this in muffins and it taste so good.

later in the day I cooked on the grill at 350 temp on top rack some ribs

I saw on a cooking site after cooking them for about 30 minutes on grill at 350 to wrap in foil tightly with about 1/2 cup of apple juice poured in with them.   This helps to tenderize and gives a great flavor.   I can hear apple juice boiling in the foil.

very tender

steamed veggies

lavender lemonade

I'm baaackk

Finally a post after a good while of being away.   Painting my bedroom downstairs along with other family matters has taken priority over the computer lately.
My sister Lynn sent me this photo today of a craft she did for her bathroom with vintage wallpaper that was found under many layers in her home in Maine.    Her home was built in the late 1800's .  
She sprayed polyurethane over the wallpaper so no harmful dyes possibly can be lifted from the paper.  I like the knobs she put on the drawer fronts she found that is covered with the paper to hold maybe hand towels or what ever you like.   I like it just the   way it is.  Very crafty idea.

Like the decorative panels below the towel rack.  I believe it is salvaged from the home also.

 

 

I am sharing with Boogie board cottage masterpiece monday        

the dedicated house make it pretty monday