The Cathedral of St. Peter, the head church of the Diocese of Belleville, sits to the south of downtown. It is a Gothic Revival edifice, but with some interesting (strange?) Modernist renovations.
Perhaps what is most notable is the lack of a transept, which usually takes the form of two wings protruding across the crossing, where the nave and apse (or choir) meet. Interestingly, as can be seen about 3/5 of the way back the cathedral, there is a break in the roof line–twice in fact. It almost seems the architect sought to bring attention to the missing transepts? He could have just as easily left it a straight shot to the apse, as in a traditional German hallkirche.
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” Appropriate inscription for a cathedral dedicated to the first pope. “Built in 1866, and renovated in 1956.”
These strange blobs on the side are clearly from the renovation in the 1950’s.
Also, this lancet window has clearly been messed with since the 1860’s.
I’m loving all the Belleville posts! You should take a look at the boulevard in Signal Hill.
Thanks, Amy! I need to find Signal Hills on my next trip over there.
In 1956, an addition to the rear of the Cathedral was completed. The original building’s apse was where the first roofline break is. The second roofline break represents the back of the sanctuary. So, the altar and sanctuary is between the two roofline breaks, in the middle of the church, and in the front and back of the sanctuary, are two aisles, a north aisle (the older part of the original church) and a south aisle (entirely new, built in 1956). The window you mentioned is the back of the new south aisle. It is an interesting design, with seating both in front of the altar, and behind it. The Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville is the largest cathedral in Illinois (bigger even than Holy Name in Chicago).