The Saint of Skillman Street
On one of the sleepiest blocks of Skillman Street there is an interesting building that looks like it is no longer in use. Between Dekalb and Lafayette is St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Sonntag’s Schule. I believe that “Sonntag’s Schule” is German for “sunday school”. Even though I grew up around a lot of native German speakers, I failed to learn the rudiments of their language, so don’t bet on my translation.
This recalls an earlier time when there was a sizable population of Germans in the area.
A sliver of fading sunlight touches the top of a cherub’s head.
If you look very closely, the angel looks like he is asleep. Or dead. In any case he is peaceful in repose, and the stonework is absolutely amazing. So many details!
This is not an industrial block; there are a few homes here. There will be a lot more activity on the block soon because just across the street on Skillman there is a new building that looks like it might be for our neighbors from the Satmar community. Several of the apartments in the new building face the Sunday school, so the families moving into those apartments will have a heavenly view just outside of their window.
The Sunday school is attached to this church that faces Bedford. St. Peter’s church looks like it is still active. I wonder why the Sunday school building is no longer in use?
24 April 2007, 10:53 am
great photos, that angel kid is creepy!
25 April 2007, 12:33 pm
My brothers and I were christened in this church. I don’t remember having Sunday school in this building at all. I do however remember coffee hour every Sunday in the dining hall downstairs. Sugar cookies and kool aid. Vital for a strong body. The inside of this church is gorgeous. Unfortunately, the congregation was always much older. Many have passed on and there just aren’t that many Lutherans around.
25 April 2007, 6:42 pm
How interesting! I’ll have to get a peek inside the church one Sunday.
09 October 2008, 8:53 am
[...] I first photographed this Sunday school building in spring 2007, the building looked like it was abandoned, but not haunted. What a difference a [...]