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Church of St. Edward, Busto Arsizio

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Coordinates: 45°36′13″N 8°51′32″E / 45.6036°N 8.8588°E / 45.6036; 8.8588
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Church of Saint Edward
Church of St. Edward
Map
Location Busto Arsizio, Lombardy
CountryItaly
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
Founded24 June 1938
DedicationSaint Edward
Dedicated1939
Consecrated12 October 1939
Architecture
Architect(s)Giuseppe Polvara Giacomo Bettoli
Years built1938–1939
Specifications
Capacity210 (sitting) 500 (sitting and standing)
Administration
DivisionNeighbourhood of Saint Edward
SubdivisionThe 'Ring' Quarter [a]
DioceseDiocese of Milan
ParishSaint Edward
Clergy
Priest(s)Don Antonio Corvi

Don Giorgio Zordan

Don Gabriele Bof
Laity
Director of musicLuca Andena [1]

The Church of Saint Edward is a Roman Catholic church in Busto Arsizio, Italy. The church serves as parish church of the parish of Sant'Edoardo since 1947, and since 1951, along with the Church of Santa Croce. Construction of the church began on 24 June 1938 and was consecrated by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster on 12 October 1939.[2]

History

[edit]
Cardinal Schuster consecrating the foundation stone of the Church

In 1936, plans to construct a larger church for the Cascina Brughetto began. The previous church, dedicated to Sant'Eurosia, was demolished in 1954, 15 years after the Church of St. Edward opened, and 2 years after the Church of Santa Croce opened. [3]

Construction of the church began on 24 June 1938 and was finished and consecrated on 12 October 1939 by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster. The church was primarily funded by Edoardo Gabardi, to which the church was dedicated.[4]


Construction of the Façade, 1938

The church was designed by two architect-priests, Don Giuseppe Polvara and Don Giacomo Bettoli.[5] The frescos were painted between 1943 and 1947 by Ernesto Bergagna, with additional frescos painted in 1985 by Giuseppe Magini.


The Church in 1939

In 1945, at the church, the order for the partigiani to liberate the area was sent from the church. The first priest, Don Ambrogio Gianotti (1901–1969), was a partigiano.[6] The church became the parish church for the neighbourhood in 1947.

The Oratorio on St. Edward's day, 2024

In 1972 the church acquired the paintings from the Church of Santa Croce, which was demolished that year. The church also has an Oratorio, dedicated to Giovanni Bosco. The oratorio was founded in 1946, originally dedicated to San Luigi. In the late 1990s the oratorio was divided, with sant'Edoardo changing their oratorio name to Giovanni Bosco, meanwhile San Luigi kept the name. [b][7]

The church decorated for the patron saint day festival

The church celebrates its patron saint day on the second Sunday of October every year.[8]

The church's current priests are: Don Antonio Corvi, Don Giorgio Zordan and Don Gabriele Bof.[9] The church's nun is Suor. Laura Motta, who arrived in 2024.[10] The choir is directed by Luca Andena.[11]

Architecture

[edit]
Drawing of the Church of St. Edward, notice the incomplete bell tower
The first proposed design of the church
The Second proposed design of the church

Interior

[edit]
Interior of the church of Saint Edward

The interior of the church is decorated with frescos, painted by Ernesto Bergagna and Giuseppe Magini. At the back of the altar there is a large mosaic, representing the trinity, made by the ‘Beato Angelico’ school.[5]

The organ of the church of Saint Edward

On the left side of the church, near the altar, there is the church's organ, donated by the church of Santa Maria di Piazza. The nave has four chapels, two on the left side, two on the right. Along with the main altar, there are two other ones on each side of the main altar. Inside the church there is the tomb of Don Ambrogio Gianotti [6]

Frescos

[edit]
The Maranatha fresco

The frescos on the churches side walls were painted in 1985 by Giuseppe Magini.[12] There are 12 frescos on the walls. Magini chose these frescos to represent the prayer of the Profession of faith,[13] and they terminate on the church's main arch with the words ' Tu solo signore hai parole di vita eterna (Only you lord have the words of eternal life).[14] Each of the 12 frescos depicts a verse from the profession of faith prayer. The 12th fresco depicts Maranatha (מרנאתא‎). This was chosen to represent the community's unity and hope.[15] The frescoes are supposed to be read left to right, starting from the right side of the church.

Chaples

[edit]

The nave has four chaples, two on the right, two on the left.

On the left side there is

  • A chapel dedicated to Saint Edward. This chapel was built fairly recently, with the statue of Saint Edward being sculpted in 1994.
  • A chapel dedicated to Saint Rita of Cascia. The chapel was built in 1943 and the painting of Saint Rita was painted by Bregagna. The chapel also has a black marble altar in front of the painting. It was restored in July of 1989, in honour of the church's 50th anniversary. [16]

On the right side there is:

  • A chapel dedicated to Saint Teresa. This chapel is similar to the one dedicated to Saint Rita. It has a small black altar at the front, with a portrait of Saint Teresa in the back. This chapel was also built in 1943, by Bergagna and was also restored in July of 1989. [17]
  • The tomb of Don Ambrogio Gianotti. This tomb was built in 1980, and Gianotti was officially interred there 12 years after his death, on the 12 April 1980, after being moved from the cemetery of Busto Arsizio. The tomb also features a portrait of Jesus Christ.[18]

Altars

[edit]

The church, along with the main altar, has two smaller altars each side of the main altar.

On the left side there is:

  • The Altar dedicated to the Saints Ambrose, Charles Borromeo, and Galdino. This altar is decorated with frescos of the three saints, along with a fresco of Our Lady of Helppainted by Bergagna between 1943-1947. The altar was consecrated in 1947. On the altar, there is the church's tabernacle. The tabernacle was made by the Beato Angelico school.[19]


On the right side there is:

  • The Altar dedicated to Madonna of the Rosary. This altar was constructed between 1943-1947, and consecrated in 1947. Behind the altar there is a large fresco depicting the Madonna holding the baby, Jesus. Around this fresco there are various pictograms. Each pictogram depicts a verse from the Ave Maria. This was all designed and executed by Bergagna.[20]

Exterior

[edit]
The Portico of the church in the late 1970s. It has since been renovated

The exterior is covered with bare brick. The church also has a portico by the entrance, with two memorials dedicated to Edoardo Gabardi, constructed in 1942 and to Don Ambrogio Gianotti, constructed in 1971. The portico was constructed in 1941. [6] By the entrance there are 6 statues, which (in the original design) were meant to be placed on the roof of the portico.[6]. The church was meant to have a decorated Cornice, which would have depicted various scenes of Jesus Christ's life, but due to lack of funds this couldn't be achieved [21]

Bell tower

[edit]
The bell tower of the church of Saint Edward

The church's bell tower was constructed in 2002–2003, and opened in 2003. The construction of the steel frame though, began in 1946, but due to lack of funds it wasn't completed for another 57 years. It has the same style of bare brick like the church. There are ten bells. On the side of the bell tower, there is a plaque, erected at the end of the tower's construction.[22].

Notable People

[edit]

Don Ambrogio Gianotti (1901-1969), first priest of St. Edward, partigiano[23]

Burials

[edit]
Tomb of Ambrogio Gianotti

The church has one burial, the Tomb of Ambrogio Gianotti. He was interred in the church on 12 April 1980, after being moved from the Busto Arsizio Cemetery. [24][25]

[edit]
Construction of the Abside, 1938
Construction of the interior, 1938
Don Gianotti and Cardinal Schuster , on the church’s opening day

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The neighbourhood of Saint Edward is subdivided into four districts (all named after items St. Edward used:
    1. Ring Quarter – Yellow
    2. Crown Quarter – Green
    3. Sceptre Quarter – Blue
    4. Cape Quarter – Red
  2. ^ All of the churches in Busto Arsizio have an oratorio. Before 1995 there was only one, San Luigi.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://oratoriosancredo.wixsite.com/santedoardo
  2. ^ AA.VV. (1989)
  3. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 11.
  4. ^ "E il parroco disse: "Insurrezione"". Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  5. ^ a b "s edoardo".
  6. ^ a b c d "Chiesa di Sant'Edoardo". UPEL Italia.
  7. ^ "Home | Parrocchie Sant'Edoardo e Santa Croce". SanCrEdo.
  8. ^ Milani, Chiara Lucia (September 25, 2024). "Busto: Sant'Edoardo, è tempo di festa patronale".
  9. ^ https://oratoriosancredo.wixsite.com/santedoardo/s-messa
  10. ^ https://www.rete55.it/news/busto-santedoardo-e-tempo-di-festa-patronale/
  11. ^ https://oratoriosancredo.wixsite.com/santedoardo/in-bacheca
  12. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 45.
  13. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 45-46.
  14. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 46.
  15. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 47.
  16. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 35.
  17. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 35.
  18. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 73.
  19. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 33.
  20. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 34.
  21. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 16.
  22. ^ "Chiesa di Sant'Edoardo". Gruppo Alfano.
  23. ^ https://www.museopartigiano.it/upload/documenti/G/G-17.PDF
  24. ^ "Don Ambrogio Gianotti (1901–1969) – Find a Grave..." www.findagrave.com.
  25. ^ Candusso, Nicoletta (1989). S. Edoardo, La Chiesa, La Comunità, Il Quartiere. Arti Grafiche Baratelli. p. 72.

45°36′13″N 8°51′32″E / 45.6036°N 8.8588°E / 45.6036; 8.8588

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