HISTORY OF CHRIST THE KING CHURCH
| Christ the King Church 1052 Pleasant St., Worcester, MA. 01602 |
The parish of Jesus Christ the King was founded in 1936 to serve the residents of
the Tatnuck area of Worcester and Paxton, Massachusetts. This parish has a rich
history and remains an important part of Tatnuck community life.
Christ the King Church also has a reputation for accomplishing extraordinary
things. In an uncommon act of bold faith and perseverance, parishoners
succeeded in building a 450 seat church in only 45 days, a mere four months of the
parish's inception. Originally intended to be a temporary six year structure, the
original church served the parish for twenty-two years.
Construction of the existing, permanent structure took nearly two years and was
dedicated on October 26, 1958 for the feast of Christ the King. Major renovations
have changed the face of the building twice in 40 years, in 1966 and again in 1985.
Adjoining two story function rooms were added along with handicap restrooms
and an elevator to meet the needs of a growing community in 1998.
Today our parish continues to play an essential role in the life of the local
community. Aside from the steady streams of baptisms, weddings, and funerals
one would expect to find in a parish with over 1600 member families, Christ the
King Church hosts over 35 active ministries and provides religious education to
nearly 400 youths at all grade levels. The parish engages seven full or parttime
employees and hundreds of volunteers to fulfill its mission "to serve one another"
and "to reach out to all".
We invite you to join us in Celebrating the Good News of Christ's redeeming love.
WELCOME TO OUR PARISH
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EARLY CHRIST THE KING CHURCH
| An outdoor shrine is present to the left of the church which was used for nearly 22 years. |
| This is the "temporary" church of Christ the King completed in only 45 days. The first Mass was celebrated here on October 26, 1936. |
TODAY'S CHRIST THE KING CHURCH
Christ as King, depicted in many aspects of His glory, is the central theme of the striking
mosaic mural adorning the front of Christ the King Church. Juliette Nault, Worcester
artist and sculptor, executed the work after spending months in research on its design.
After sketches were complete, the full scale design and specifications were sent to
artisans in Italy to be executed in mosaic. Hundreds of thousands of marble pieces in
varying shades of grey, white, black, and muted red tones are interspersed with small
pieces of gold leaf fused under glass. The end result is a creation of great beauty that
was installed in 1958.
Christ the King is over the main entrance of the church and is flanked by figures of the
Blessed Virgin, angels, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, and symbols representing the
Apostles, Martyrs, Pontiffs, Doctors of the Church, Confessors, Virgins, and Holy
Women.
Dramatic values are subordinated to symbolic ones. A sea is clearly visible, symbolic of
Christ the King of the sea. The "King of all living creatures" is depicted by a lion,
representing Christ's strength and a stag, the symbol of power over evil. A rose bush
represents His love and compassion. The family is represented by three figures and
peace is expressed by children releasing a dove. Christ's power is evident in the King,
saints, and angels giving homage to Him.
The panel extends around the baptistry and contains symbols of the seven sacraments.
The entire design is consolidated by the use of branches that have a common root in
the tree at the bottom of the large pane at the left.
mosaic mural adorning the front of Christ the King Church. Juliette Nault, Worcester
artist and sculptor, executed the work after spending months in research on its design.
After sketches were complete, the full scale design and specifications were sent to
artisans in Italy to be executed in mosaic. Hundreds of thousands of marble pieces in
varying shades of grey, white, black, and muted red tones are interspersed with small
pieces of gold leaf fused under glass. The end result is a creation of great beauty that
was installed in 1958.
Christ the King is over the main entrance of the church and is flanked by figures of the
Blessed Virgin, angels, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, and symbols representing the
Apostles, Martyrs, Pontiffs, Doctors of the Church, Confessors, Virgins, and Holy
Women.
Dramatic values are subordinated to symbolic ones. A sea is clearly visible, symbolic of
Christ the King of the sea. The "King of all living creatures" is depicted by a lion,
representing Christ's strength and a stag, the symbol of power over evil. A rose bush
represents His love and compassion. The family is represented by three figures and
peace is expressed by children releasing a dove. Christ's power is evident in the King,
saints, and angels giving homage to Him.
The panel extends around the baptistry and contains symbols of the seven sacraments.
The entire design is consolidated by the use of branches that have a common root in
the tree at the bottom of the large pane at the left.
Stained Glass windows: The beautiful stained glass windows in the church
were created in the studio of Pierre Lardeur, a major artist living in France. When
the windows were installed in 1958, the artist stayed in Worcester with the Naults,
the family of the architect of the new church.
Themes of the windows are:
1. Annunciation -
2. Epiphany -
3. Presentation -
4. The Holy Family -
5. Calling of the Apostles -
6. Jesus Preaching-
7. The Marriage at Cana -
8. Multiplication of the Loaves -
9. Jesus Enters Jerusalem -
10. The Last Supper -
11. Jesus Dies on the Cross -
12. The King of Glory -
Marquetries also adorn the church's interior. The marquetries were originally
ordered by an Archbishop in Paris. The artist made duplicate panels and sliced each
marquetry into two layers, making two sets. One set is now in the church of the
Sacre Coeur in Paris. The other was discovered by Bishop Wright in an antique
shop in New York. He purchased them and gave them as a gift to Christ the King
Church. To view the Marquetries (click here).
were created in the studio of Pierre Lardeur, a major artist living in France. When
the windows were installed in 1958, the artist stayed in Worcester with the Naults,
the family of the architect of the new church.
Themes of the windows are:
1. Annunciation -
2. Epiphany -
3. Presentation -
4. The Holy Family -
5. Calling of the Apostles -
6. Jesus Preaching-
7. The Marriage at Cana -
8. Multiplication of the Loaves -
9. Jesus Enters Jerusalem -
10. The Last Supper -
11. Jesus Dies on the Cross -
12. The King of Glory -
Marquetries also adorn the church's interior. The marquetries were originally
ordered by an Archbishop in Paris. The artist made duplicate panels and sliced each
marquetry into two layers, making two sets. One set is now in the church of the
Sacre Coeur in Paris. The other was discovered by Bishop Wright in an antique
shop in New York. He purchased them and gave them as a gift to Christ the King
Church. To view the Marquetries (click here).
Several new improvements to the modern church have also been
completed in recent years, including the addition of the Johnson Center,
Our Lady of Tatnuck Chapel and the Holy Family Shrine. To
view them (click here)
completed in recent years, including the addition of the Johnson Center,
Our Lady of Tatnuck Chapel and the Holy Family Shrine. To
view them (click here)
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