St. Cecilia, patroness of sacred music, overlooked the choir loft for decades in Wisconsin Dells. On either side of the main window you can see icons associated with her. On the left, a harp for her musical significance, and to the right, palms, as she was also an early martyr for Christianity.
Arguably the highlight of my last visit to old St. Cecilia's was seeing the stained glass window display. Being very old and perhaps original components of the church building, they have been a visual highlight for parishioners and visitors for decades.
Of these windows, the most notable are the pair of large windows in the transepts of the old church, each depicting scenes that aren't commonly seen in church artwork. Located where rose windows are commonly found at the sides of the church, these windows area a larger alternative.
Detail of an angel proclaiming the Nativity of Christ to the shepherds.
Left: Depiction of The Guardian Angel, originally a Bernhard Plockhorst painting.[1]
Right: St. Michael the Archangel defeating Satan.
The second of the two large windows, showing the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
These side windows, from near the sacristy depict a pair of the sacraments, baptism and communion respectively.
St. Patrick
These windows were underneath the choir loft.
With the new church well into construction, it is wonderful to say that practically all of these windows will be installed in the new church. Due to open in late 2016, you can follow along in the construction process through both St Cecilia's parish social media and the Diocese of Madison's Catholic Herald. If I am in still in the area when it opens, you can bet I will be back with my camera!
Links on St. Cecilia's:
"New St. Cecilia Church in Wisconsin Dells", Catholic Herald, written by a good friend of mine, Kevin Wondrash.
Facebook page: "St. Cecilia Catholic Church"
St. Cecilia Catholic Church
