Enter St. Peter Roman Catholic Church - Merchantville, NJ
N 39° 57.016 W 075° 03.175
18S E 495479 N 4422238
Beautiful and very unique stained glass doors adorn the this impressive church.
Waymark Code: WM955V
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 06/30/2010
Views: 5
The doors themselves are nice, framed in a Gothic-like style, but it is what they are made out of which gives them their uniqueness. There are four of them all total, each one different than the next. There is a double side-by-side pair in the center and two flanking doors on either end.
The stained glass is not in one unseparated tapestry, rather it is separated by gold borders making it have a jigsaw effect. The glass is religious in nature staging several religious scenes featuring prominent religious figures. While there are other types of stained glass, specifically the more traditional kind in the interior if the church (visible from the outside in reverse fashion), I found this glass to be the most impressive and inviting.
According to the date stone this church was constructed in 1906, the stone being laid, November 4 of that year. The church is beautiful, constructed of stone, with lots of stained glass, interesting hard angles and recessed area and a gorgeous one of a kind statue of St. Peter in the front. Naturally the church neglected to write about its history on an otherwise comprehensive website.
The church website makes a point to mention the front doors of the church. Our Church door separates us from the world with its hustle and stir in order to introduce us to the inner life where all is silence and recollection. We are brought even unto the sanctuary where dwells the Prisoner of Love!
Our Church door is placed, therefore, between the outside and the inside – between that which belongs to the world and that which is vowed to God. The steps of our stairway prepare us to lift our souls to the Lord. Let us witness it by our lack of presumption as we cross the threshold. Slowly opening our Church door, let us open our hearts to its language, so rich in meaning: “Leave outside whatever is not of God; frivolous thoughts, earth-bound desires, vain care, worldly pleasures. Purify yourselves for you now enter God’s House.”
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