St Joan of Arc parish in Indianapolis was established in 1921, a year after Joan of Arc became a saint. Six years later, MIT-trained Chicago architect Henry Schlacks, who studied in Germany and Italy, designed St Joan based on two churches in Rome. Construction was begun in 1928, anchored by 14 solid limestone pillars quarried in Bedford and delivered by rail. (A special one-time-use railroad was laid along 42nd Street to get them on site.)
But the years had taken their toll. Without air conditioning, ninety summers of hot humid air, followed by 90 winters of coal- and oil-fueled heating, caused everything to repeatedly expand and contract. The original linoleum flooring was worn through by the feet and knees of thousands of parishioners. The lighting was medieval and the colors had become dull, dingy and drab.
In 2015, a capital campaign was begun, and, with pledges, grants and gifts, five million dollars was raised. Air conditioning was installed in 2017 and in May of 2019 the church was vacated, with Masses held in the school gym, during restoration.
The newly restored and renovated St Joan of Arc was opened with a Mass on Saturday, September 12, 2019, during the annual St Joan of Arc French Market Festival.
During French Market day, architectural tours of St Joan of Arc will be guided by William Selm, an architectural historian at IU and Joan of Arc parishioner. Tours are at 1:30, 3:30 and 7:00 and are free, but a donation would certainly be welcome!