St. Benedict's 'Painted Church'


[Painted Church Exterior ]


Here is the very plain, traditional looking church in Captain Cook, Big Island (Hawai'i).
Outside are gardens, with birds (like this Saffron Finch and Common Myna), a cemetery, and a recreaton of the stations/steps of crucifixion on a grassy hill.

Inside are the hand-painted columns and virtual gothic recreation entirely created with housepaint. Were it not for the work of Father John Berchmans Velghe - a Belgian priest from the same order as the legendary 'Leper Priest', Father Damien - this would be a simple plain-plank interior.
But he transformed the walls into 'teachable moments' for parishioners, many who could not read. In both English and Hawaiian, the tenets of the Bible are illustrated - on the wooden walls.



[Painted Church - Interior with Pews ]

Pews and Altar

 [Painted Church - Altar ]



[Saffron Finch]

Saffron Finch

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Photography by Fenichel © 1996-2020 Michael Fenichel

Photography by Fenichel Last Updated:Wednesday, 26-Aug-2020 23:09:08 EDT

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