Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Fall 2013 Issue | Page 18

Anomalies & Oddities

Closer Looks at Church Architecture
Borrowing some inspiration
from the Washington National
Cathedral’s Darth Vader
grotesque – the result of a
decorative sculpture contest for
children in the 1980s – we decided
to take a closer look at our own
churches’ structural oddities. We
invited Diocese of Virginia churches
to submit photos of their churches’
architectural “quirks.”

Trinity, Upperville
The wrought iron at Trinity, Upperville, was
executed by the New York City-based father-andson team of P.A. Fiebiger. “The exterior tower-light
is of particular interest,” said Beth Rogers, parish
administrator. “At its apex, it bears the figures
of angels, which came from a medieval church in
the town of Wittichenau, near Dresden, Germany.
When that church was built in 1280, a master of
the ironworkers’ guild made angels to stand over
the gateway, which are traditionally known as the
‘Angels of Peace.’ After the last Great War, Paul
Fiebiger revisited his native town and found that
much of the historic church was sadly changed.
The old bells had been seized and melted for war
materiel, and the town was too poor to replace them. Mr. Fiebiger donated a set of
bronze bells to the church, and in gratitude, the townsfolk presented him with the
famous ‘Peace Angels.’ Feeling that they should always grace a church, the Fiebigers
have incorporated them into the tower lantern of Trinity Church. The history of the
angels is an example of the extraordinary devotion and joy the many artisans have
taken in building a place for God’s worship.”

Church of St. Clement, Alexandria
The signature feature of Church of St. Clement, Alexandria, is actually its lack of an architectural element:
windows. The Rev. Darby Wood Betts, first rector of the church, worked with architect Joseph H. Saunders on
the structure, which was completed in 1948. “There is a feeling of being in darkness, with the focus of light on
the altar and with small star-like lights in the ceiling,” said Martha Crawley of St. Clement. “In 1993, the inside of
the church was renovated. The floor was replaced and a false skylight over the altar was installed. The skylight
enhanced the dramatic focus of light on the altar.”
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Virginia Episcopalian / Fall 2013