The old church, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic,
has stood in this location, overlooking the rolling countryside, since 1902.
It was designed by William C. Harris, a Canadian architect, known for the acoustics of the buildings he designed. The material and labour were provided by local people, both parishioners and non parishioners.
The church was debt free when completed.
Over the last century, the church needed repairs as the number of parishioners declined. It could have been demolished. However, a fund-raising effort helped restore it and later, the Indian River Festival Association formed to offer musical performances in the church. The arrangement keeps the building maintained and used. Sunday services are held there in the summer.
The acoustics of the church are incredible, said to be among the ten best performance venues in the world.
Sitting in the pew, one is wrapped in sound, one with the music, as the performers sing and play in the sanctuary. The festival hosts classical, contemporary, choral and folk music to name a few. There is something for everyone over the summer months. My husband and I have tickets for traditional and folk music in August.
This church is a testament to the ingenuity and hard work of those who built it and those who work to maintain it.