Holy Name Cathedral is often considered the king of Chicago’s Catholic churches (it is, after all, the seat of Archdiocese of Chicago). But I’d argue that St Michael in Old Town Parish challenges Holy Name in beauty and grandeur.
The church’s first building, a wood-frame structure built in 1852 for just under $750, has been rebuilt twice – first in 1866 with red sandstone bricks and again in 1871 after the Chicago Fire, which left only the front walls standing. Lucky for Chicagoans, the church has been well kept since then.
Its 290-foot spire, visible from the Sedgwick el platform, is its most imposing feature, but some of its details are equally noteworthy. A nine-foot statue of Saint Michael stands above the main entrance. When I looked up at it yesterday afternoon, a local resident walking her two golden retrievers told me that a falcon is nesting its eggs below the statue’s feet.
Inside, the church is no less impressive, with an ornate Romanesque altar, resplendent stained glass and a pipe organ with 2,200 pipes. A member of the church saw me gazing at a wood-carved image of the Last Supper and flipped a switch so I could see it lit up.
Since we’re noting the Old Town Triangle’s distinctive religious institutions, I should also mention Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W Menomonee. The current building, dedicated in 1971, holds services and cultural events.