About the Church

Saint Agnes Parish sits in the heart of West Chester, Pennsylvania on West Gay Street. Founded in 1793, tradition runs deep in the community at Saint Agnes, which is well-known for its beautiful church.

The current church was built in 1925 in a neo-Gothic style, influenced by the old picturesque rural Churches of England, the detail being particularly inspired by Henry VII’s Chapel in Westminster. The main feature of the architecture of Saint Agnes is the “perpendicular” style of English Gothic, with an emphasis on perpendicular lines, from which all of the other ornamentation and decoration are developed.

The exterior of the Church combines many interesting details, being built of Fox Croft stone. The color of this stone gives the exterior a depth of color and texture that is unique. Above the front entrance doors, carved limestone tympanums of St. Agnes, St. Patrick, and Christ the Consoler are crowned by an intricate window. Simple and restrained yet beautiful in form, these windows carry the eye gradually to the heights of the façade, the beauty of which is augmented by the limestone trim and quaint bronze lamps of the period. 

The harmonious blending of color in St. Agnes’ Church is one of its remarkable features. The carefully selected grey, deep blue, and rusty stone of the interior walls secures a texture and depth of color which is inspiring. The soft light, entering through the stained glass windows, fills the Church with a solemn air, accentuating the subdued color of the walls, and realizing beautiful combinations of color.

The ceiling and roof follow the “Medieval Open Timber Roofs.” The style adopted was the Hammer Beam Truss, which gives a clear span between the walls. The graceful curve of the beams extends to the extreme height of the roof, giving a monumental effect.

The Crucifix on the Main Altar is made of solid oak covered with gold leaf, designed in the shape of the true cross with the Corpus in ivory. The two side altars are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. The statues on the altars are awe-inspiring in their beauty and realism. The white marble of these altars are built forms a striking contrast with the blending colors of the church and renders the altar as the most important place in the church.

The furnishings of the church have received the same study and workmanship as the other parts of the building: the oak confessionals, organ screen, the handsome wrought iron lighting fixtures, and the sanctuary lamp were all made by hand by skilled craftsmen. 

The ambo is beautifully carved of wood. This is the place from which the Gospel, the saving Word of God, is proclaimed, reminding us that we are to share the message of the Good News of God's love to the whole world.

The medallion stained glass windows were artistically rendered by one artist, Paula Himmelsbach Balano. Red and blue are the predominating colors. Above the organ and on the facade of the church is a scene from Holy Thursday. This is when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples before going to be crucified. Jesus asked them to keep watch and pray, but they kept falling asleep, prompting Jesus to say, "Could you not stay awake with me for even one hour?"

The Holy Family is depicted above the main altar, always reminding us that Jesus became human in a family, with Mary and Joseph. We ask them to pray for our own families.

On the sides of the sanctuary, the windows depict each of the evangelists, the writers of the four Gospels. St. Matthew and St. Mark are depictred on the west side, with St. Luke and St. John on the east side, each with their traditional symbol below their feet.

The window on the east transept of the church follows the life of Saint Agnes, our patroness, who was a young martyr of the Church in Rome. She inspires us to place Jesus at the center of our lives, above all other things.

The window on the west transept of the Church highlights the mystery of the Assumption of Mary, as well as other events in the life of the Blessed Mother.

Moving back, the windows closest to the main doors of the church depict the sisters Mary and Martha with Jesus, along with the Gospel story of the Road to Emmaus, when Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples after the Resurrection. There are also a number of saints whose intercession we ask for as we pray. These saints include Saint Cecilia (the patron saint of musicians), Saint Emerentiana (the foster sister of Saint Agnes), Saint Sebastian (a Roman soldier who converted and was martyred), Saint Michael the Archangel (guardian of the universal Church), Saint Catherine of Alexandria (another young virgin martyr), and Saint Joan of Arc (patron of martyrs). 

While the art and architecture at Saint Agnes Church are truly incredible, there is nothing more beautiful than when the parish gathers as a community for the celebration of Holy Mass, when heaven and earth come together on the altar of this marvelous church. 

In the Eucharist, God is physically present. The Eucharist is reserved in the tabernacle and so we are always in the presence of God in Saint Agnes Church, as the sanctuary lamp reminds us. 

At Saint Agnes, we are one in Christ. This beautiful church does not only belong to a select few, but to all who enter through its doors. We pray that you will find the peace and joy of knowing God's love here in our parish.
 

Saint Agnes, pray for us!