Sacred Spaces: St John the Evangelist, the First Cathedral in Indianapolis

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Disney-Britton

INDIANA - The apse (above) at Saint John the Evangelist Church in downtown Indianapolis is just a small sample of inspirational artistry inside this church. Intact from its completion in the 1860s, it is the second St. John's (est. 1837) and the city's original Catholic parish. The Gothic Revival design for this former Pro-Cathedral is among the earliest churches left in the city and the soft red brick exterior is in sharp contrast to the ornate richness of the interior. Rich Victorian colors highlight the sanctuary. The rose window is composed of plate tracery pierced by Gothic lobed openings enclosed by simulated quadripartite vaulting. Saint John the Evangelist Church is a treasure trove of inspiring art & interior design in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. South Capital Ave at West Georgia St.