Sacred Heart Church Restored

Postcard of the original Sacred Heart Catholic Church building, c. 1907.

Gazette Article by Barbara Sholl, Fall 1994
Updated November 17, 2021

In 1897, four lots at the corner of Tower and Burr in Winnetka were purchased for $1,000 to establish a Catholic congregation for 1,500 residents of Winnetka, Glencoe, Lakeside (now Hubbard Woods) and the farms located in what are now the communities of Northfield and Northbrook. Sacred Heart Church was completed just in time for the celebration of Christmas Mass that year.

In 1908, that first modest structure was razed in order to build a larger church to accommodate the growing parish.  This church and adjacent school served the congregation for the next seventeen years. In 1928, after three years of fund-raising, a splendid Neo-Gothic building was built on the site of the old church. Over the years, embellishments and changes were made to the interior of the church, culminating in major renovation and redecoration in 1957. The new design was based in a marble panel carved by sculptor Joseph O’Connell titled, “The Vine and the Branches.” It inspired a color scheme to reflect nature: the brown floor represented the earth; walnut paneling, the trees; green walls, the leaves; and a dark blue ceiling, the sky.  Stonework was removed, as were the arches from under covers of wood, plaster and paint.

In 1994, a new lighting and sound system, as well as a Gathering Room, re-configured altar, and seating arrangement were designed to improve the participation and comfort of church-goers.

Bill Sturm, an architect with the firm of Prisco, Serena and Sturm, incorporated an abstract flow of nature in that renovation, still adhering to the theme of “The Vine and the Branches.”  Sensitivity to the form and shape of the building, emphasis on simple tones and elegant accents, and the choice of materials to minimize noise created a peaceful sanctuary.

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