Saint Mary of Sorrows
Saint Mary of Sorrows
Fairfax, VirginiaBuilt adjacent to the parish’s existing facilities on a suburban site in historic Fairfax, the new building is cruciform in plan, with transepts, sanctuary, and nave forming a Latin Cross. The pedimented gable-ends and careful proportioning form a distinctly American version of Palladian Architecture, loved by early American builders for their religious meeting houses but reinterpreted here for a growing twenty-first century community.
The exteriors are designed to be subtly feminine, characterized by their use of a rose-colored brick and restrained use of limestone accents. Special emphasis is given to the east-facing entry façade with Ionic Columns forming a prominent eustyle portico and a Diocletian-inspired rose window above.
The understated exteriors bely the grand and airy interiors, lit primarily through the large clerestory windows. The immense amount of natural light is softened and animated by cross-patterned grilles derived from Roman motifs at each window and is supplemented with hanging pendant light fixtures. The truth of the structure supporting this interior volume is physically expressed with large semi-circular arches defining each bay and is further expressed by paired Ionic columns at the lower side aisles.
On axis with the entry is the sanctuary, separated from the nave floor by four steps. Here the Ionic gives way to the Corinthian Order supporting a great proscenium arch. Rising behind the main altar is the elevated rear altar with the Tabernacle, identified as the most sacred location in the church by its Corinthian canopy.
The rear wall of the church is reserved for seven stained-glass windows, two of which are now installed. The others are scheduled for installation throughout 2021.
