St. Agatha - St. James Church Tour
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St. Agatha - St. James Church Tour |
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The transept is proclaimed, architecturally, by the great arch spanning the nave. But when we walk through the church it is somehow elusive. That is in part because of the subtlety of Edwin F. Durang's architecture of 1881-1887. But the transept also underwent a major alteration a generation later, in 1905. So when we pause to look at the transept, we shall consider the first space, that of 1887, then the second space, that of 1905, and finally subsequent revisions.
The great arch that marks the transept bears two frescoes, painted in 1912. In a roundel on the left King David plays his harp, while on the right Moses displays the tablets of the Old Law, the Ten Commandments. Figures from the Old Testament, then, overlook the nave space, given over to saints and stories from the New. These two men also stand for the three components of the Old Testament: Moses represents the first five books, the Pentateuch or the Torah; David is the central figure of the Histories but as his harp shows, he is also the author of the Psalms which together with other writings comprise the third section of the Hebrew Scriptures.
 Moses receives the Tablets of the Law |
 Peter receives the Keys to the Kingdom |
These two frescoes of 1912 in turn respect the imagery of the first transept of 1881-87, where the Old Testament also plays a role. Looking down the side aisles, we can see two large stained glass windows in the clerestory of the transept. At the left, God the Father gives Moses the Tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19, 20 and 34). On the right, Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, "You are Peter and on this rock I build my Church" (Matthew 16:18-19). These windows of 1887 are obviously conceived as a pair. Moses, kneeling at our left, balances Peter, kneeling at our right. Moreover, these are scenes of joy and terror. Angels sing and another blares a trumpet to celebrate the giving of the law but on the other side, at Christ's feet, St. Michael wages war with that old serpent the Devil (Revelation 12:7-8). These additions to stories from the Bible encourage visitors to the transepts to consider Scripture in increasingly mystic and symbolic ways.
The side walls of the transept, facing east and west, continue this mingling of story and symbol. At our left a huge window sets forth the Nativity of Christ, where the stable at Bethlehem accomodates both the shepherds of Christmas night and the three Magi of the Epiphany. Above this tumultous celebration is a small roundel where the prophet Elijah proclaims to King Ahaz of Judah that the virgin will conceive and bear a son (Isaiah 7:10-16). On the opposite wall is an equally festive presentation of the Ascension (Acts 1:6-9). Christ rises at the center. Above Him, in another roundel, the prophet Elijah ascends to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:9-12).
There is much to see here, and much to ponder. We are invited to consider the Old Testament as Church tradition has taught, as a prefiguration of the New, and of the coming of Christ. The great windows set forth the first and last appearance of Jesus on earth, complementing the story of the Passion, the Stations of the Cross, in the nave.
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Far below, as we come into the transept, we see that the column capitals of the nave have undergone a change. Forms cease to be foliate but instead become great chunks of masonry containing four carved human heads, one per capital. Aided by clues from the stained glass in the sanctuary, we can identify these men as the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These continue the symbolism of column and apostle as noted in the nave. Here, however, their presence also marks the crossing of the church, where nave and transept intersect. Above them, in the stained glass, are stories these evangelists tell. And directly above their heads appears an image central to this Church in a form witnessed by the apostle John. |
The Lamb of God in the central dome
The columns of the crossing support great pointed arches which in their turn sustain an octagon. From that rises a ribbed dome of eight sides, whose central image is a Lamb. It bears a halo. It supports a banner blazoned with a cross. And the lamb reclines upon a book sealed with seven seals. Looking up, we contemplate the Mystic Lamb of the Apocalyse (Revelation 5:1, 6-14) who is none other than Christ in Glory, the Lamb that was slain, the Alpha and the Omega. We behold, as we do at Mass, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."
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The transept received a major change in 1905. In that year the confessionals were removed and two side altars were installed. That on our left, beneath the Nativity, shows the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Behind is a range of origninal windows, the central window also commemorates the Sacred Heart. |
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On the opposite end of the transept is an altar dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua; behind him is a stained glass window commemorating the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Sacred Heart displays Christ's love for us all. Devotion to Christ is enacted by Anthony of Padua who holds the infant Christ in his arms. As time went on, the transepts acquired other images and objects. At an unknown date the right transept received a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. In recent decades, a marble baptismal font from St. Agatha's Church was placed before the altar. It is fitting that the infant Christ, held in Saint Anthony's arms, looks down upon the place where babies receive baptism. Here also stands the Paschal Candle (except during the Easter season). |
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St. Agatha - St. James Church Tour |
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