St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gluckstadt, Miss., had its beginnings more than a century ago as a rural parish church serving a handful of parishioners in rural Mississippi. Today, the church is a growing congregation whose needs have outstripped the old parish church that had served it for more than half a century.
Parishioners recently completed construction on a new church complex designed by the late Michael Barranco and his colleague, Scott Carpenter, that reflects the functional elements of a modern urban church design but hints at its roots with its board and batten exterior and its new standing seam metal roof.
“We tried to nail together a church layout with all the characteristics of modern day worship but still reflect its origins as a rural type of church,” notes Carpenter. The result is a traditional look that pays homage to its origins but also incorporates elements of modern worship including lots of green space and courtyards and a large gathering space within the building. Today the complex houses a sanctuary, a family life facility and classrooms. Sustainability was also an issue, notes Carpenter, pointing to the use of Hardyboard for the walls and standing seam metal panels for the roof.
The architects chose 21,500 square feet of Perth Amboy, N.J.-based Englert Inc.’s 18-inchwide 2000 Series profile in Slate Grey for the roof. Malouf Construction, Greenwood, Miss., was the general contractor and Mid-State Roofing Co., Pearl, Miss., was the installer. Modern church reflects rural roots.
Englert Inc., www.englertinc.com
