The Church of the Assumption on Long Circular Road, Maraval.
PICTURES SHIRLEY BAHADUR
PICTURES SHIRLEY BAHADUR
Assumption celebrates 70 years
In the 1940s all of the Roman Catholic churches in T&T were constructed in the shape of a cross using the cruciform plan.
This was a plan popular in Europe and America.
But in 1949 when Anthony C Lewis was approached to design a new Catholic church in Maraval he wanted to do something different.
Lewis wanted to design a building that would make his work stand out. And that he did.
“Lewis had visited the site prior to making his offer and already had several ideas in mind.
The land was bordered by trees, with a pink poui dominating. It was an opportunity for Lewis to incorporate the theories and philosophies he had learnt from the work of Van de Roche and Wright. Lewis used natural pink, blue and yellow sandstone to reflect the colours of the poui. He designed with natural materials in mind, indigenous limestone and greenheart timber with natural lighting,” the National Trust website states.
“The Church of Assumption did not follow the traditional cruciform designs and uses a non-traditional orientation to provide soft filtered light and good cross-ventilation for the early morning celebration of mass.
During the construction, Father Connolly, the parish priest overseeing the project on behalf of the church, was heavily criticised for allowing a design that appeared more like an aeroplane hangar than a church. The criticisms were unfounded, however, as the resulting church is one of the finest examples of modern architecture in Trinidad,” it stated.
Renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer was said to have visited Trinidad just to see the church.
“The sight of the revolutionary design brought tears to his eyes, a validation that Lewis could only ever have dreamed of,” the National Trust stated.
Tomorrow the Parish of Assumption celebrates its 70th anniversary.
Its timber columns, which distinguish the parish from others, are still standing tall.
“Seventy years is an opportunity in any parish to celebrate the work of all who have gone before us, the lives of parishioners and their work toward building our parish, to celebrate these many achievements of people to remind ourselves of these sacrifices that were made in the past so that we can today celebrate,” Fr Ashton Pierre said.
“It is an opportunity not only to look back at accomplishments but to see in what ways we can honour those who have gone before and speak to their lives but also see how we can take what they have given us and move forward with it,” he said.
Pierre lauded the workmen who helped construct the magnificent structure.
It took two years for the Parish of Assumption to be completed.
The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Finbar Ryan on January 21, 1952.
Pierre said the way forward for the parish begins with three Rs— Revitalise, Reconnect, and Restore.
A benefit concert titled Echoes of Love is scheduled to be held on August 21 at Queen’s Hall under the patronage of Archbishop Jason Gordon.
The church has also commissioned a piece of artwork, through Jackie Hinkson, of the building and from that they will have limited edition copies that parishioners can purchase as a way of celebrating the 70th anniversary, Pierre said.
Nine days of morning prayer have also been ongoing.
“Feast day is intended to be a grand celebration of our parish.
The feast day celebrates the dogma of the assumption and what it means for us as Catholics and what it means for us at this church,” Pierre said.
Pierre is encouraging parishioners to bring a “rose” for Mary.
“The rose will take the form of non-perishable items and these will be brought as gifts and we will give these non-perishable items to the poor and the needy.
This will be a tangible way to connect with the poor in the community,” he said.
Pierre is also calling on people who may have had weddings or graduations at the church to bring their photos to be included in an upcoming coffee book for Christmas.
“We are asking parishioners to bring your wedding photos, bring your baptismal photos, brings things that mark a significant point so that you too can be part of the text and that is what we really want that feel of history,” Pierre said.
“This will allow people who experienced these things to say ‘oh I remember’. And having those memories help us celebrate,” he said.
“There is a lot to thank God for, as a priest, we build on what went before us,” Pierre said.
Fr Pierre is encouraging parishioners to bring a ‘rose’ for Mary. ‘The rose will take the form of non-perishable items and these will be brought as gifts and we will give these non-perishable items to the poor and the needy. This will be a tangible way to connect with the poor in the community,’ he said.
This was a plan popular in Europe and America.
But in 1949 when Anthony C Lewis was approached to design a new Catholic church in Maraval he wanted to do something different.
Lewis wanted to design a building that would make his work stand out. And that he did.
“Lewis had visited the site prior to making his offer and already had several ideas in mind.
The land was bordered by trees, with a pink poui dominating. It was an opportunity for Lewis to incorporate the theories and philosophies he had learnt from the work of Van de Roche and Wright. Lewis used natural pink, blue and yellow sandstone to reflect the colours of the poui. He designed with natural materials in mind, indigenous limestone and greenheart timber with natural lighting,” the National Trust website states.
“The Church of Assumption did not follow the traditional cruciform designs and uses a non-traditional orientation to provide soft filtered light and good cross-ventilation for the early morning celebration of mass.
During the construction, Father Connolly, the parish priest overseeing the project on behalf of the church, was heavily criticised for allowing a design that appeared more like an aeroplane hangar than a church. The criticisms were unfounded, however, as the resulting church is one of the finest examples of modern architecture in Trinidad,” it stated.
Renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer was said to have visited Trinidad just to see the church.
“The sight of the revolutionary design brought tears to his eyes, a validation that Lewis could only ever have dreamed of,” the National Trust stated.
Tomorrow the Parish of Assumption celebrates its 70th anniversary.
Its timber columns, which distinguish the parish from others, are still standing tall.
“Seventy years is an opportunity in any parish to celebrate the work of all who have gone before us, the lives of parishioners and their work toward building our parish, to celebrate these many achievements of people to remind ourselves of these sacrifices that were made in the past so that we can today celebrate,” Fr Ashton Pierre said.
“It is an opportunity not only to look back at accomplishments but to see in what ways we can honour those who have gone before and speak to their lives but also see how we can take what they have given us and move forward with it,” he said.
Pierre lauded the workmen who helped construct the magnificent structure.
It took two years for the Parish of Assumption to be completed.
The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Finbar Ryan on January 21, 1952.
Pierre said the way forward for the parish begins with three Rs— Revitalise, Reconnect, and Restore.
A benefit concert titled Echoes of Love is scheduled to be held on August 21 at Queen’s Hall under the patronage of Archbishop Jason Gordon.
The church has also commissioned a piece of artwork, through Jackie Hinkson, of the building and from that they will have limited edition copies that parishioners can purchase as a way of celebrating the 70th anniversary, Pierre said.
Nine days of morning prayer have also been ongoing.
“Feast day is intended to be a grand celebration of our parish.
The feast day celebrates the dogma of the assumption and what it means for us as Catholics and what it means for us at this church,” Pierre said.
Pierre is encouraging parishioners to bring a “rose” for Mary.
“The rose will take the form of non-perishable items and these will be brought as gifts and we will give these non-perishable items to the poor and the needy.
This will be a tangible way to connect with the poor in the community,” he said.
Pierre is also calling on people who may have had weddings or graduations at the church to bring their photos to be included in an upcoming coffee book for Christmas.
“We are asking parishioners to bring your wedding photos, bring your baptismal photos, brings things that mark a significant point so that you too can be part of the text and that is what we really want that feel of history,” Pierre said.
“This will allow people who experienced these things to say ‘oh I remember’. And having those memories help us celebrate,” he said.
“There is a lot to thank God for, as a priest, we build on what went before us,” Pierre said.
Fr Pierre is encouraging parishioners to bring a ‘rose’ for Mary. ‘The rose will take the form of non-perishable items and these will be brought as gifts and we will give these non-perishable items to the poor and the needy. This will be a tangible way to connect with the poor in the community,’ he said.