About Us
It was the culminating point of nearly two years of planning and labor,...but the result has amply rewarded the labor, for this structure will in the future rank as one of the handsomest of Columbus church buildings. It is in the gothic style, and in its general plan, although on a very modest scale, resembles the great cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris...
One of the notable features of the new church are its fine windows, all of which are memorials donated by various persons and organizations. The large circular one in the face of the church is the gift of the choir and, Father Weisinger himself (pastor) presented the two large windows near the altar and facing each other, in memory of the two dead bishops of Columbus, Bishops Rosecrans and Waterson. Four small windows over the sanctuary are the evangelists, Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The color scheme of the...santuary decorations is white....
The Church and priest's house are both constructed of vitrified brick and are very handsome in both general and minute effect.
As the Dispatch wrote, the windows are one of the finest features of St. John's Church. "The large circular one in the face of the church" is often called a "rose" window.
The other two large windows, one on each side near the altar, dominate the front of the church. As one faces the altar, the one on the left depicts the Birth of Jesus with shepherds around and angels above. Further up the window are symbols of the Crucifiction of Jesus-Veronica's veil, etc. - linking together Jesus' birth and death.
The large window on the right shows the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, with the 11 Apostles looking up as witnesses. Above are symbols of the Holy Eucharist - the Cup and Bread, the Lamb of Sacrifice, etc. - leading to the final image of the Dove (Holy Spirit) of Pentecost. The imagery here shows Jesus physically leaving the earth but sill present through the Holy Spirit in the Church, as well as in the gift of the Eucharist.
The other windows along the body of the church are without images of saints or biblical events. They are Victorian in design and of lighter colors, perhaps to help illuminate the church at a time when electric lighting was just starting to be used indoors.
One of the more striking features of the church, though now less prominent, is the ceiling. With age (and the smoke and soot of many candles!), the images are much duller - somewhat like those in the Sistine Chapel in St. Peter's in Rome before their recent restoration. The ceiling is based on the last book of the Bible, The Book of Revelation. This subject was probably chosen because the author of Revelation is thought to be the Gospel writer, John, after whom this church itself is named.
A modern addition to the art of the church is found in the small room entered to the right of the sanctuary. Here, Jesuit Fr. James Hasse, former pastor, painted his vision of the Book of Revelation, as well as a more realistic representation of Heaven with church members as Angels and Saints.
Returning to the front of the church, the original ornate altar includes statues of St. Peter (right) and St. Paul (left). Saints. Peter and Paul were the first main evangelizers (preachers of the Gospels), as St John was one of the evangelists (writers of the Gospels). The stained glass windows around the altar, then present the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. On the outer left wall of the santuary, there is a statue of the Virgin with the infant Jesus - the traditional position of a statue of Mary. And on the right is the statue of Joseph, her husband.
The Community of Holy Rosary St. John welcomes all to enjoy the artistic beauty of its church. The Catholic tradition encourages a great appreciation of the visual arts, dance (in its rituals), and music. More important is the service to the poor, God's special people, which happens at the former school building, the St. John's Center. The Center houses The Community Kitchen which serves a daily noon meal, and the Learning Center (stjohnlearning.org).
