The altar and windows in the main apse date from St. Peter’s second church. The French stained-glass windows were part of the original construction of that building, completed in 1890. The altar, in carrara marble with onyx pillars, is called the Jubilee altar; it was installed in 1896 for the parish’s 75th anniversary. The altar and windows survived the 1940 fire to become part of the third church. The altar used now for Mass originally stood in front of the altarpiece at the rear wall; during the mid-1980s renovation, it was reconfigured and moved forward.
The windows in this apse show Christ surrounded by his inner circle of Peter, John, and James (the apostles with him for the raising of Jairus’s daughter, his Transfiguration, and his agony in Gethsemane), and Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. Window details include the names of donors and honorees. From left to right, the windows show:
St. Paul: A Pharisee and Roman citizen who had persecuted Christians, Paul here is an old man in red and burgundy robes, holding a scroll. After his conversion, Paul became the early church’s greatest missionary, who wrote heartfelt letters to the communities he evangelized. Paul shares a feast with Peter on June 29; his window says: “Gift of Geo F Harbin and Sarah P Harbin.”
St. Peter: A Galilean fisherman, Peter became a leader in the fledgling church and later its first pope. He’s also shown as an old man in red and rose-colored robes; by tradition, Peter and Paul, founders of the church in Rome, were martyred there. Peter holds a key in his right hand and a sword hilt in his left. With Paul, he shares the June 29 feast, which is also the parish’s patronal feast. Peter’s window says: “In memory of Mr and Mrs Daniel Carroll.” Daniel Carroll donated the land on which St. Peter’s was built.
Christ Resurrected: In the central window stands the risen Christ, wearing blue and white robes, with his heart exposed and his hands raised in blessing. His palms appear to bear the marks of the nails at Calvary. Easter is the great feast of Christ’s resurrection. This window says: “Gift of Owen Donnelly.”
St. John: John was a Galilean fisherman called from mending nets to follow Jesus. Depicted here as a young man in burgundy and gold robes, John holds a chalice with a green snake emerging from it and a book, possibly his Gospel or Book of Revelation. John’s lore includes the story that in Ephesus he was offered poisoned wine, but, before drinking it, he blessed it and the poison left the cup as a small green snake. His feast is December 27; his window says: “In memory of John Smith.”
St. James: A fisherman like his brother John, James the Greater was the first of the Twelve to be martyred, beheaded in Jerusalem in 44. He was called Greater to distinguish him from the other apostle James, the Lesser, who likely was smaller or younger. Here, James is a middle-aged man wearing green and gold, and holding a staff and large book. His feast is July 25; his window says: “Gift of Robert E Smith.”