“A church shouldn’t feel cold, should it?” a hushed voice whispered beside the towering facade of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. St. Thomas More Catholic Church, an imposing structure on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, often evokes that very sentiment. Built in the Romanesque Revival style, its sheer size can feel overwhelming. The exterior, with its heavy stone and massive portals, speaks of strength and grandeur, almost daunting in its Romanesque might. But step inside St. Thomas More Catholic Church, and a different story unfolds. The architect, John T. Comes, envisioned a space that balanced this exterior weight with delicate beauty. The interior, bathed in warm light filtering through stained glass, has an unexpected Mediterranean feel. Two rows of white columns draw the eye upwards to the vaulted ceilings, adorned with intricate chandeliers, and forward towards a breathtaking icon of Christ in the choir loft. While the exterior might seem to declare the powerful presence of God, the interior whispers of salvation, grace, and beauty. It’s a study in contrasts, a visual journey from the imposing to the welcoming. Perhaps that’s what makes St. Thomas More Catholic Church so compelling. It’s a place where the weight of history and faith meet the warmth of sanctuary.
The Afrocentric Spectrum Mural
What whispers do the walls of a city hold? The Afrocentric Spectrum Mural, here on University Avenue, speaks volumes about