The present church building of S.S. Peter and Paul Parish in Independence was built in 1895 by polish/Silesian settlers from Opole County Silesia. It was the 2nd church built – the first was a wooden structure built in 1875.
The church is the 2nd largest church in the Diocese – the only church larger is the Diocese Cathedral in La Crosse. The parish now serves over 700 households or families.
In the year 2010 the Parish began a massive restoration project of the structure. The project included new electrical system, repairs to the roof and outside bricks, new flooring, and the restoration of the wooden pews. The entire interior was repainted and the giant columns were re-plastered and painted. All of the 33 massive stained-glass windows were removed , re-leaded and replaced.
The painting of the interior is highlighted by the ceiling above the altar. This painting is of the Ascension of the Lord and conveys a sense of holiness to all who enter. This Ascension scene is similar to how the original ceiling was when the church was first built.
A new addition was built to include an elevator for better access to the church for the handicapped and elderly. This new addition includes two beautiful new stained-glass windows with Polish themes. One window is of the Divine Mercy of Jesus – an image of Jesus inspired by Sister Faustina a new saint from Poland. The other window is of the very popular “Polish Pope “ – Pope John Paul II.
Also included in the project was major landscaping work in the front of the church including a new stone wall and artistic metal fencing. Ron and Joyce Wanek (founders of Ashley Furniture located in Arcadia) donated a new state of the art church organ.
This resurgence of the church’s splendor was not the work of a few people. Parishioners and community members took on this huge task , along with help from relatives and friends from outside Independence – many who grew up in the parish. The monetary cost of the renovation was nearly $2 million. The project has been paid for in full thanks to many donations of all sizes – including some very major donations in the thousands of dollars. The major tasks of painting, renewing the stain-glass windows and the elevator addition were done by contracting firms. But much of the labor and other work involved was done by hundreds of volunteers.
Father Woodrow Pace , the pastor of the parish, states “The church is a reflection of the beauty in the hearts of our people. This restoration will allow the church to last for generations to come. The pride in making the building strong is a symbol of faith and something parishioners have a heart for protecting. Throughout future generations this beautiful church will not be just a building but a place where faith lives.”