st. bernadette church - westlake, ohio
In 2018, Fr. Phil Racco engaged Henninger’s to re-invigorate the Worship Space at St. Bernadette Church in Westlake, Ohio. While a desire to retain much of the same architecture and appointments was important to allow parishioners to continue to feel a bond with their Church, the goal was to enhance and update the look of the Church while bringing a clearer focus towards the Sanctuary. Henninger’s worked with Fr. Racco to fine-tune renderings and a timeline that would beautify the Worship Space and limit the amount of time when the Church would not be available for Mass.
Renderings used for renovation planning
Artist rendering of renovation
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New floor plan for curved pews
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The first step was to remove the Risen Christ statue that blended in with the back wall and replace it with a colorful Stained Glass of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette - backlit in a light box - for the impression of a Rose Window in the Sanctuary. The crucifix that hung in the original Church was returned to the Sanctuary and – after being painted to match the other statuary in the Church – hung above the Altar. The tile in the Sanctuary was then replaced with new porcelain tile that complemented the Sanctuary furniture, which was thoroughly cleaned.
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St. Bernadette Before Renovation
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Sanctuary - Stained Glass, Crucifix, and New Floor
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With the Sanctuary complete, the focus turned to the back wall, as the divider that separated the Church from the gathering space was removed and replaced by a glass partition that connected the main Church to the gathering space, which was previously not connected to the Church. The glass was sandblasted with religious symbols and the large entry doors gave more access between the two spaces. The Risen Christ that had previously hung in the Sanctuary was re-painted and hung on the back wall.
Next up was the body of the Church as the aging pews that required constant maintenance were removed and a more linear layout was selected, using curved pews that mimicked the curve of the Sanctuary steps. Aisles that led directly from front to back replaced the previous jagged layout, making the Sanctuary the focal point and the heart of the Church into which the arteries of the aisleways led. Platforms were built on each side of the Church for the Choir to be moved from the front beside the Sanctuary to a new location on the side and an area was dedicated to the “new” Baptismal Font, which incorporated elements of the former Font and accented it with mosaic bowls to match the color of the faceted glass windows and carved stone. New pedestals were built for the Mary and Joseph statues that had previously been held in the corners of the Church for them to become an extension of the Sanctuary.
Next up was the body of the Church as the aging pews that required constant maintenance were removed and a more linear layout was selected, using curved pews that mimicked the curve of the Sanctuary steps. Aisles that led directly from front to back replaced the previous jagged layout, making the Sanctuary the focal point and the heart of the Church into which the arteries of the aisleways led. Platforms were built on each side of the Church for the Choir to be moved from the front beside the Sanctuary to a new location on the side and an area was dedicated to the “new” Baptismal Font, which incorporated elements of the former Font and accented it with mosaic bowls to match the color of the faceted glass windows and carved stone. New pedestals were built for the Mary and Joseph statues that had previously been held in the corners of the Church for them to become an extension of the Sanctuary.
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Back Wall, New Pews, Flooring in Nave
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Baptismal Font
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New tile and carpet was laid and the pews arrived and were installed, completing the transformation from a dated-looking Church with old pews and carpet into a cleaner design that enhanced the St. Bernadette Church that the parishioners held such a close bond to while not replacing it completely. As the Church begins its 70th year in 2020, it represents a next step and a new beginning for the building and the Parish.
