On Assignment: Finding beauty close to home

On my way back to our office from a sports assignment at Philipsburg-Osceola High School this week I saw St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Presqueisle Street. I always glance and smile now as I drive by, reminded of an assignment I had there in the fall.

It was a Sunday morning, the same week the pope was visiting Philadelphia, when I walked into St. Paul’s. I entered through a side door and asked a youth member for the way into the sanctuary from the fellowship hall. She politely pointed the way, and when I rounded into the worship space I was in awe. I took a seat in the last wooden pew, put my camera down and just looked around.

The congregation was singing a hymnal accompanied by the ceiling-high pipe organ as I took in the exposed stone walls, gothic archways and hardwood floors. The lantern chandeliers and stained-glass windows cast a warm light as visiting bishop the Rt. Rev. Audrey Cady Scanlan shared her sermon. Scanlan’s robes even added to the visual appeal of the scene. They were gorgeously embroidered with gold trim, and she talked about her crozier that her family had carved for her.

My college art history classes were popping into my mind, pointing out all the details and artistic work that was put into the building — details you need to take a moment to stop and soak in. The detailed woodwork of the pulpit. The imperfections of the stones that were carefully worked together. The precision of each arch. Then the personal up to date touches, like the homemade embroidered banners highlighting the liturgical year made the space cozier.

The more than 100-year-old church has a rich history behind it and is an architectural gem sitting quietly as the traffic passes. It was built by Benjamin Franklin Morgan with the help of community members, using stones from quarries in the region. Some say this was one of the first churches to use electricity.

After the service I took a lap around the sanctuary, admiring it again before heading to the coffee hour where everyone was welcoming and insisted they had some of the best home-baked cookies.

I learned that morning, and am reminded each time I pass by, sometimes you don’t have to travel to another country, or a large city, to see something beautiful. Sometimes it’s right here in our backyard.

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 6:19 PM with the headline "On Assignment: Finding beauty close to home."