St. Ann Catholic Church
4001 Yuma St NW, Washington, DC 20016
It might be of interest to know that the architect of the present church was Henry D. Dagit. The first church of St. Ann’s was built of wood in 1898. The second church was built of stone in 1903. There was an interim church made of stone which now serves as the parish hall built in 1938. The present church was built under the pastorate of Msgr. Henry D. Collins. It was built of stone in 1948. The third church was renovated after Vatican II when the main altar was moved down to the present position. Marble saved at that time was used to erect a support for the tabernacle. The baptistry, originally in the confessional room, was moved out and a wall was built behind it so that it would be near the main altar. This shows the the connection of Baptism as the gateway to the Eucharist. Given its present position, it also dovetails with funerals that are brought in the Yuma Street door and the words used in the service, referring to Baptism and our hope at funerals. The pulpit (ambo) was moved slightly away from the wall to its present position. The celebrant’s chair was repositioned to the side of the altar. This was done under the pastorate of Msgr. William H. Awalt.
The beautiful stained-glass windows of St. Ann Church are among the main attractions. These windows were designed by the internationally renowned stained-glass artist, Marguerite Gaudin, and manufactured at the Willet Stained Glass Studios in Philadelphia. Some of Miss Gaudin’s notable works include windows in New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the entire fenestration in the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, facade windows for St. Anselm’s Meguro Church, Tokyo, Japan, and one of the largest stained-glass installations of 30,000 square feet for the Museum of Science in New York City.
William J. Awalt
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