St Mary Church ca 1910

St Mary Church ca 1910

In 1905, St. Mary in Woodstock became a separate parish from Crystal Lake and Barrington. Money was raised for a church and the building was completed in 1910. By 1920 the remaining mortgage for the church, $20,000, was paid off through a donation by Mrs. Elizabeth Alice Murphy. When the church was first finished the rail and altars were painted wood. Shortly after, the wood furnishings were replaced by white marble. This photo shows the interior of the sanctuary when the church was first built, with the marble altar rail and marble center and side altars. Zoia Monuments, led by Tony Zoia, installed these marble furnishings. Note the angels painted on the walls on either side of the sanctuary and the ceiling decoration in the sanctuary. Also, the picture shows doorways leading back from the sanctuary that have been closed up. The far right stained glass window has been shortened to accommodate another doorway that exists today. [written by Donna Marie Gadziak; donated after 2001]

Donna Marie Gadziak

1910~