At the southern tip of Western Avenue, Chicago’s longest thoroughfare, is a fine example of midcentury church architecture in the Morgan Park community area. St. Walter Roman Catholic Parish constructed a combination church and school building in 1955–56 at the northeast corner of 118th Street and Western. St. Walter’s, founded in 1953, served residents in the southernmost section of the Morgan Park neighborhood. Following the construction of numerous single-family residences in the post–World War II era, the southern portion of Morgan Park attracted Catholics, who desired a parish of their own. The congregation first met in temporary facilities at 121st Street and Western in the nearby Village of Blue Island and established a rectory at 11713 South Maplewood.[i] After a sprawling vacant site was secured, plans were drawn up by the architectural firm of Gaul and Voosen for a new church, school, and convent.[ii] Although a few neighbors objected to the siting of the new parish, zoning was later approved and ground was broken for the new complex.[iii]
The brick, limestone, and Lannon stone building, constructed in 1955–56 at 11715–59 South Western, is a fine example of the International style of architecture, a modern style distinguished by its minimalism. In lieu of any applied surface ornament, interest is created through manipulation of the building’s form, its structural system, and its fenestration. Architects Gaul and Voosen created a low-profile building with an L-shaped plan on an expansive site. Functions are separated in this sprawling design, with the school in one section of the L and the church and convent in the other. Characteristic of International architecture, all roofs are flat, and the design is geometric and block-like in form.
The church sanctuary is entered through a shared, window-walled main entry with the school. It exhibits a facade of square and smooth ashlar stone blocks and a projecting central block bay that extends above the flat roofline. This bay features full-height stained glass windows and an affixed metal cross. Unadorned brick side walls are visually broken by a narrow cornice with a stone course, tall and narrow rectangular stained glass windows, and a ribbon of ground-level windows. Corner wings, which are block-like and one story tall, are clad in Lannon stone and contrast with the brick walls. The sanctuary allows for approximately 700 worshipers. St. Walter Church was dedicated on October 7, 1956.[iv]
The school wing to the north, which was later extended, is rectangular in plan with a flat roof. To decrease noise from busy Western Avenue, horizontal ribbons of glass block windows were installed.[v] Also adding to the building’s horizontality are stacked awning windows and continuous panels of Lannon stone below. The school was opened in the fall of 1955 and initially operated by the Sisters of St. Dominic.
At the rear is the convent is a two-story wing with similar materials, block forms, picture windows, and flat roofs. The convent originally housed the school staff. Completing the complex is the final building constructed for St. Walter Parish. The rectory, at the rear of the church at 11722 South Oakley, is also International style. The same architectural firm, Gaul and Voosen, designed the building, which was dedicated in 1963.[vi]
[i] A History of the Parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Volume II, p. 980. The address was 12034 South Western.
[ii] City of Chicago Ancient Building Permit No. B125349. February 11, 1955.
[iii] Murphy, Ray. “Defer Zone Approval for New Church.” Chicago Daily Tribune. July 18, 1954, p. SWA1.
[iv] A History of the Parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Volume II, p. 980.
[v] “Work to Start on St. Walter Project Soon.” Chicago Daily Tribune. November 4, 1954, p. S1.
[vi] A History of the Parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Volume II, p. 980.