Arkansas tour of churches: The art and architecture of nine churches you should see

By Malea Hargett
Editor

During your travels across Arkansas, it is important to visit tourist attractions and sites that make each city unique. In 110 cities in Arkansas there is a Catholic church, and many of them have historic, architectural and artistic importance to our diocese and the state. Why not make it a point to tour these churches before or after Mass or make an appointment during the week and learn more about their significance?

Here are a few select churches we suggest you must see.

Central Arkansas

Cathedral of St. Andrew, Little Rock

For six years, the mother church of the Diocese of Little Rock underwent a massive, $2 million renovation. Nearly every inch of the building inside was updated. Beginning in 2002 the slate tiles on the roof were replaced. Starting in 2003 many of the updates made to the Neo-Gothic church in the 1970s, like the wooden screen behind the back altar, were removed to make the church look more like it did when it was built in 1884. Five stained-glass windows were returned to their original location and four new windows were installed. The Stations of the Cross were restored and stenciling around the church was recreated to imitate the original church.

Website: http://www.cathedralsaintandrew.org

For tours: Call the church office at (501) 374-2794 and the office will arrange a docent to lead the tour.

Weekend Mass times: Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m.,12:05 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

St. Edward, Little Rock

St. Edward is a Gothic revival-style church, built between 1901 and 1905. It was renovated in 2003.

Pastor Father Jason Tyler said, "Among the devotional imagery are statues of the apostles; stained-glass windows of Benedict and Scholastica and the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In the nave, eight stained-glass windows feature male and female saints which represent a movement from earthly work (St. Isidore the Farmer and St. Notburga) to our reception of God's grace in confession (St. John Nepomucene and St. Mary Magdalene), which strengthens us to carry out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy (St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Boniface), leading us into contact with God in the sacred liturgy (St. Cecilia and St. Gregory the Great)."

Website: http://www.saintedwards.net

For tours: Call the church at (501) 374-5767. During the parish's Oktoberfest Oct. 2, tours will be available 5-7 p.m.

Weekend Mass times: Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. (Mass also available in Spanish at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Sundays).

Northwest Arkansas

Subiaco Abbey

Many Catholics in the state visit Subiaco Abbey to attend retreats at Coury House. While you are there, it is worth it to take a self-guided tour of the abbey grounds. The centerpiece of the campus is the sandstone abbey church, which was dedicated to St. Benedict and Our Lady of Einsiedeln. Subiaco was founded in 1878 as a priory of Abbey Maria-Einsiedeln in Switzerland and St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana. Beginning in 1952 the church was built over the next seven years. It features Romanesque arches and stained-glass windows from Munich. Other places to visit are the inner courtyard of the abbey and East Park.

Website: http://www.subi.org

For tours: Call the Coury House at (479) 934-4411.

Weekend Mass times: Sunday 10:45 a.m. Visitors are welcome to join the monks on Sundays for the Office of the Readings at 6:45 a.m., morning prayer at 7:20 a.m. or vespers at 7 p.m. On Saturdays, morning prayer starts at 6:45 a.m. followed by Mass at 7:30 a.m. Vespers begins at 7:05 p.m.

St. Mary Church, Altus

The Roman Basilica-style church was built in 1902. In 1999, the church underwent a $500,000 renovation to restore the church's stained-glass windows and decorative pressed metal that is on the upper walls and ceilings. Another interesting feature are the murals and the Stations of the Cross, which were painted on oil on a gold mosaic background. German artist Fridolin Fuchs came to Altus in 1914 to paint the interior of the church. When the renovations were made 11 years ago, the German titles on the Stations were added back and the original design and colors were restored.

For tours: Call pastor Father Hilary Filiatreau, OSB, at (479) 468-2585 and he will schedule a time to lead the tour.

Weekend Mass times: Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.

St. Elizabeth Church, Eureka Springs

St. Elizabeth Church is often mentioned for its unique entrance. The Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" column highlighted the church because visitors enter through the bell tower.

The church was dedicated April 25, 1909, by Archbishop John J. Glennon of St. Louis. Parishioner Richard C. Kerens donated the land for the church and the funds to build it, beginning with a chapel built in memory of his mother, Elizabeth. The chapel was constructed on the spot where he last saw her prior to her death in 1892. Later Kerens decided to construct a church adjacent to the chapel.

For tours: Call the church at (501) 253-2222.

Weekend Mass time: Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Northeast Arkansas

St. Paul Church, Pocahontas

The church, which was built in 1899, was called "the Basilica of the North" by the late Father David Jacobs. Located on Catholic Hill, it overlooks Pocahontas. Stones to build the church were quarried nearby and the lumber for the choir loft came from the original wooden structure. The numerous stained glass windows are original and all donated.

Website: http://www.saintpaulcatholicchurchpocahontas.com/

For tours: Call the church office at (870) 892-3319.

Weekend Mass schedule: Saturday 6:30 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Southwest Arkansas

St. Mary, Hot Springs

The 141-year old church is located in the historic downtown. The current church was built in 1923. In the 1970s, stained glass windows depicting the seven sacraments were installed. Outside is a statue of Mary in the grotto, which is regularly visited by the local residents and tourists.

For tours: Call the church office at (501) 623-3233.

Weekend Mass schedule: Saturday 6 p.m.; Sunday 9 and 11 a.m.

Holy Redeemer Church, El Dorado

The church was built in 1923 and renovated in 2002. It is a showcase for the art of Arkansas artist George Hoelzeman. He created the altar, ambo and presider's chair in cherry. The processional cross is made of curly maple and incorporates an antique corpus. A Tenebrae Hearse, a triangular candlestick, was designed to use during the Liturgy of Hours on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

The final piece, a baptismal font, was installed and used for the first time at Easter 2009. Hoelzeman designed a terra cotta bowl lined with mosaics to sit on a cherry-wood base.

Website: http://www.holyredeemereldorado.org

For tours: Call the church office at (870) 863-7537 to schedule a tour with pastor Father Gregory Pilcher, OSB.

Weekend Mass schedule: Sunday 8 and 10 a.m. (Mass in Spanish is celebrated at 12:30 p.m.)

Southeast Arkansas

St. Mary Church, Helena

When the church was built in 1934, pastor Father Thomas J. Martin chose three unknown young men to design and construct the church. Charles Eames of St. Louis was chosen as the architect. He gave up being an architect in later years to design furniture. His Eames chair led the way to the design of all molded plastic furniture today. He also designed St. Mary Church in Paragould.

The stained-glass windows were designed by Emil Frei, also of St. Louis, one of the best window designers in the United States. He often worked for the Vatican. Many of the symbols in the Helena church windows are his own design, not the traditional symbols.

The mural behind the altar was painted by Charles Quest, an educator and artist in St. Louis. The mural features God, the Father, supporting in his arms his crucified Son. Two large angels hold a chalice and Eucharist. Below Jesus are a row of Old Testament prophets who foretold of Christ's coming. Quest's work has been exhibited in museums around the world.

Website: http://www.dolr.org/parishes/st-mary-church-helena

For tours: Call the church office at (870) 338-6990 to schedule an appointment with the docent.

Weekend Mass schedule: Sunday 10 a.m.

 

Click here for the Catholic Travel 2010 section index.

 

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