Christ the King Chapel at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, NE

The Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska was founded in 1924 by the Sisters of St. Francis. The substantial brick hospital was constructed shortly thereafter.

The former main entrance to the hospital is accented by elaborate stone carvings and a statue of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

In 1948, the cornerstone was laid for the new Chapel of Christ the King. The architecture of the new chapel harmonizes well with the older, original hospital building.

The exterior of the chapel is primarily Romanesque Revival in design, but also exhibits some Italian influence.

A wonderfully stylized statue of Christ the King graces a niche on the chapel facade.

The elaborate and imposing exterior of the chapel gives way to a very simple and somewhat somber interior. The windows bathe the nave in a comforting blue light.

From old photographs that I've seen, the decor of the chapel appears to always have been restrained, though the old high altar was removed at some point. A few Art Deco flourishes do appear in the details - namely the duct covers above the statues and the corbels supporting the sanctuary arches.

A former confessional has been transformed into a small devotional area. Saints Anthony and Francis give a silent nod to the Franciscan roots of this institution.

The chapel's windows were installed in January of 1957 and are a striking cobalt blue. The figural windows all depict Marian images, though I was unable to photograph them because of exterior shades that distorted the lighting.

Just outside the chapel is a fantastic sculpture entitled "Trinity." It was designed and created by Kearney artist Ray Schultze in recognition of the Sisters of St. Francis as the sponsoring organization of Good Samaritan Hospital. Trinity weighs 100 pounds, is 4 feet wide and is sculpted from copper. Its unique symbolism offers a message through these elements:

Perfect Circle in the Center....................The Perfection of Creation
Irregular Pieces Radiating from the Circle...........Sin and Confusion
Triangle.........................................................................The Trinity
Triangle Points......................................Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Hand & All-Seeing Eye....................................................The Father
Fish with Cross & 12 Holes...........................The Son & 12 Apostles
Dove with Tongues of Fire........................................The Holy Spirit
Greek letter "Tau".................Symbol St. Francis Used as a Signature
Pair of Hands in Front of Triangle......................St. Francis in Prayer
Outer Circle.........................................................................Eternity
Space Between Outer Circle & Irregular Pieces...............Outer Space