The current church building is the third on this site. It was designed by architect Robert W. Gibson and completed in 1891. It is made of Indiana limestone in the Northern Italian renaissance or Romanesque-Byzantine style and provides a rich setting for worship. The style was a daring departure in church architecture at the time. The new church was enhanced with chancel decorations by Louis Comfort Tiffany, which include the impressive lancet windows in the apse, depicting St. Michael's victory in heaven. The church was dedicated on December 16, 1891.

The parish house of the same style was completed in 1902. This building was designed for community service and originally contained facilities for a school, laundry and kitchen.

The interior of the church was painted with brilliant colors in 1990 by Fine Art Decoration of New York. For most of its first 100 years, the sanctuary had been painted in neutral colors. In celebration of its centennial, the church was repainted using colors in the palette of the Tiffany decorations.

An Architectural Chronology of St. Michael’s Church

1807: First church consecrated (a plain white frame building, which seated 200).

1854: Second church consecrated (a Gothic structure, built of oak, which seated 400).

1891: Present church consecrated (Romanesque structure of Indiana limestone, which originally seated 1500); Robert W. Gibson, architect.

1895: Altar, reredos, altar furnishings, credence, and chancel rail designed and produced by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, dedicated at Easter.  Decoration of the chancel to the spring of the dome completed, and the seven lancet windows, “St. Michael’s Victory in Heaven,” dedicated on Christmas Day.  The windows were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and produced in his studios with the assistance of artists Clara W. Parrish, Edward P. Sperry, Louis J. Lederle and Joseph Lauber.

1897: Lectern installed, designed and executed by the firm of R. Geissler.

1902: Parish house dedicated; Charles Merry and Robert W. Gibson, architects.

1907:  Dedication of the pulpit, the children’s dove window (a memorial to all who had been baptized at St. Michael’s) and the chancel decorations.  All were designed and executed by the Tiffany studios.

1912:  Rectory completed; Robert W. Gibson, architect.

1920:  The Tiffany mosaic reredos in the chapel dedicated on St. Michael’s Day as a memorial to Elizabeth Zimmerman.

1921:  East gallery removed, and west gallery shortened to chapel line.

1922:  The chapel altar, rail and surrounding pavement, designed by Herman Schladermundt, installed as a memorial to the Rev. John Punnett Peters.

1967:  New organ by Rudolph von Beckerath installed in north gallery.

1989:  Rededication of the chancel; artistic design executed by Fine Art Decorating, Inc. New York City and cleaning and repair of lancet windows done by Jack Cushen Studios, New York City.  Columbarium dedicated.  Designed by Stephen F. Byrns, AIA; decorated by Fine Art Decorating, Inc., with dome by James Garvey Studios.

1990:  Rededication of the nave with design executed by Fine Art Decorating.

Art
Tiffany Windows
Architecture