In 1957 Jane Owen engaged architect Philip Johnson to design a non-denominational place of worship in New Harmony, Indiana. Since all religions hold heaven in common, this special place is called the Roofless Church. It is situated on the north edge of New Harmony overlooking the flood plain of the Wabash River. It respects the grid of the Town Plan.
The walls are 12’ high with a ceremonial entry to the east with imposing gilded gates by Jacques Lipchitz. There is a more modest but elegant entry off North Street and a small hidden exit to the west. There are six sacred spaces within the walls of the church. First is the processional walk to the primary rectangular courtyard, which contains three additional spaces: one is the small contemplative grove of linden trees; next is the north-facing 6-bay loggia, Solomon’s Women’s Porch, overlooking the Wabash River flood plain and Swan Lake; then there is the hexagonal canopy which holds as its focal point the Descent of the Holy Spirit, one of three identical sculptures by Jacques Lipchitz. Behind the Shrine of the centerline of the west wall is a small limestone memorial to Marie-Alain Couturier. O.P. (1897-1954). Ironically, Jane has paid tribute to a Dominican Friar who gained fame as an internationally acclaimed stained glass artist who used no human figures in his commissions. He worked with Matisse, Lipchitz and Le Corbusier, as well as completing windows in the Philip Johnson-designed Rothko Chapel in Houston.
The last two spaces are the flanking gardens at the processional entrance, each holding special treasures Jane Owen installed over her lifetime. To the north is the Pieta by Stephen De Staebler. To the south are William Schickel’s Grandparents’ Baptismal Fountain and Ewa Żygulska’s Polish Memorial. The north garden contains a Canterbury Cross, the gift of Rev. Canon Herbert Waddams, on the north wall, and the south garden contains the Breath of God by Connecticut sculptor Mark Mennin on the south wall.
The original Roofless Church was very simple. Jane added sculptures, memorials and a fountain over time. Each sacred space within this irreplaceable church pays tribute to meditation in uniquely different ways. The design of the Roofless Church is a timeless creation through the use of Divine Proportion. It feels so inviting and comfortable because the designers, architects and artists created in harmony with the proportions and systems with which nature designs.
It is a highly sophisticated and spiritually moving place owned and managed by the Robert Lee Blaffer Foundation as part of the Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary.
