Four Walls to Hold Up an Idea

With three doors at the mouth of the church, since one would not be enough to serve the prodigious structure, with two towers outreaching the surrounding houses’ chimneys by a long shot and proudly holding the cross over Petaluma, with intricate carvings and stained glass surrounding the head of Jesus on the front wall, St. Vincent de Paul Church stands as it has for a decade and a half as a symbol of obviously, God, but also European cathedral architecture; on close investigation the church shows that every small detail was part of the highly involved plan in attempt to be appreciated and draw in more religious followers.

While sitting on a bench in front of the church on any given Sunday, one can smell the regularly cut grass which never goes uncared for; one can hear the faint hum of plentiful automobiles in the heart of downtown Petaluma just a few blocks away; one can also hear the sounds of children squealing as they dip their tiny hands in the fountain and listen to the water running down stone and dribbling into the pool below. The fountain prominently stands in the churchyard and readily flows in a monotonously comforting rhythm. The fountain, which looks plain next to the church, represents the bringing together of people and religion. The ocean connects countries from all over the world; different countries and cultures are all surrounded by the ocean. The fountain in the churchyard shows that just as water connects countries, water can connect people; people from different religions, ethnicities, and backgrounds can all come and sit by the fountain and be brought together.

Religion is a far to complicated subject. One could think that religion drains a persons soul into an intoxicating belief, while another one could feel that religion takes the good person that is apparently inside everyone and uses that being for the greater good of humanity. As complex as religion is, most houses of worship in Petaluma are quite simple. The exception is St. Vincent de Paul Church; crevices upon crevices are carefully carved to perfect detail, stained glass is placed like a puzzle that is actually worth a person’s time, and even at the highest point of the church where only a bird could really appreciate it, is carefully placed tiles.

There is a total of five stairs until one enters the new world, church. Once entering the sacred place pews upon pews repeat themselves like an assembly line and resemble an intimidating courtroom, saints line the walls and as one sees their condescending stares, and in ones paranoia, they can hear them whispering and judging the living. The laboratory, which transforms from a church, analyzes the results of their experimental subjects for beliefs on the world. While the inside of the church is a laboratory, the outside is a canvas, which becomes a piece of art representing the painters beliefs. The two sides of the structure create a balance, a center. An artist can communicate through their work for as long as the piece stands, while a sermon can only last so long. The builder has spoken and will speak with his hands through what he built for as long as the church stands.

About ten steps outside of the church one will find oneself standing on the small piece nature by means of a grass lawn with about five trees. Short, healthy grass trimmed to the inch like a golf course surrounds a few scattered trees that sound like waves when the wind blows through the leaves of the church. Even a few seagulls are perched on a bench staring everyone down and daring them to walk underneath when they fly. The beach finds its place at church. The builder was not creating a cult, but a sanctuary, a place where someone could think and observe.

When looking up at the crosses which create the highest points and often are hidden under low fog, one can get the idea that they are supposed to be looking up toward God, toward heaven. Religious ideas were clearly a leading factor in the design of St. Vincent de Paul church, but other aspects influenced the finished product as well. The stained glass windows are carefully placed so that at different times of day the light can emphasize the cathedral-like elements of the church. The light is hope; the hope shines into the church so the builder feels that he is spreading hope, and togetherness, and the fact that one does not have to be religious to appreciate his church. Through his attention to detail the builder wanted people to look at the church and not think of strictly religion and controversy, but of architecture, and how the structure can enhance the beliefs and values of those who use it.

-Maggie