Corpus Christi Catholic Church

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

With the main goal of beautifying and elevating the worship space, many careful decisions were made over colors, murals, medallion content, stencil designs, and panel layout. These elements were designed to create a rich interior full of symbolism, while working harmoniously together. The design was created to celebrate and elevate the architecture of the space and bring back a sense of tradition found in historic churches, especially those of the pre-Vatican II era. The interior architecture and furniture display elements and motifs from the Gothic Revival era, which served as the foundation for the overall design. Known for rich decoration and colors, the Gothic Revival era has a plethora of stunning examples of church interiors and established rules of design that provided direction and structure for the rendering.

COLOR PALETTE:

The color scheme is a rich palette comprised of primary red, gold, and blue hues. The reds and golds call forth imagery of the blood/wine and body/bread while also being representative of divinity and Heaven. The blues supplement as a tertiary hue to balance out the overall warmth of the design. To draw attention towards and elevate the sanctuary, the most important place within the church, a mural of vibrant golds was placed. Upon the walls, panels with contrasting reds and blues activate the space through tasteful contrast. The ribs are painted a dark brown to harmonize with the window frames and pews, but also harken back to the historic era of wood beam church construction.

MURALS & MEDALLIONS:

The sanctuary ceiling contains a large mural representing the golden splendor of Heaven and celebrating the most Holy Body. Present are four angels, two holding censures and two in adoration. The four frame the hanging Crucifix. Above the angels lies the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, surrounded by a burst of light. Note how the figures form a triangle, a strong visual metaphor for the Trinity.

In addition to the mural, there are several medallions present with important symbols. Above the side shrines are the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, respectively. Within the sanctuary are five medallions, which, from left to right, are the Alpha, wheat and the Eucharist, the Lamb of God, grapevine and Chalice, and the Omega. The Alpha and Omega are symbols of Jesus being both the beginning and end. The wheat and eucharist, and grapevine and chalice are eucharistic symbols. The Lamb of God is another eucharistic symbol of the sacrificial lamb that, eternal in innocence, takes away the sins of the world.

STENCIL DESIGN:

As noted previously, the church fits within the Gothic Revival architectural style so the stencils used follow the structure and motifs found within the Gothic and Gothic Revival eras. The principal ornament of these eras is the leaf-molding. To honor this, many stencils make use of vibrant floral and vine scrollwork. The organic nature of the scroll enlivens the space and borders, while also suggesting important symbols such as the grapevine that provides the wine, or a symbol for Jesus as the True Vine (from John 15:5). The stencils also feature strong geometric shapes befitting of the architecture, such as the gothic pointed arch, quatrefoils (and variants), and diamonds/squares. Diaper patterns fill empty panels and wall spaces, not to overpower and dominate, but to enrich and celebrate the forms. The most vibrant and ornate patterns are reserved for areas of importance, notably the sanctuary, nave ceiling, and side shrines.

PANELS and BORDERS:

The various panels and borders throughout the space all serve to break up the large expanse of interior in a way that is harmonious with the architecture. By using a strong horizontal band along the nave walls, a clear distinction and separation of the ceiling becomes evident, allowing each space to be given a curated treatment. The great wall carries the pointed arch motif further, encapsulating the side shrines into their own areas, separating them and drawing importance. Similarly, the sanctuary wall is separated into distinct sections: walls, frieze, and ceiling, suggesting architecture that would be appropriate for the style and space. These sections also serve as the motif of the separation of the Heavenly and Earthly realms. Careful attention was made to ensure panel proportions and spacing are uniform and appropriate for the space inhabited.

TEXT:

In the sanctuary are three Latin phrases: HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM (This is My Body), HIC EST ENIM CALIX SÁNGUINIS MEI (This cup is My Blood), and SANCTUS SANCTUS SANCTUS (Holy, Holy, Holy). The text is shown in a period appropriate Gothic font and utilizes traditional Latin rules (i.e. no “U’s” are used and instead are supplemented with “V’s.” or the use of punctuation is replaced with historical interpuncts “·” and colons “:”)