I once heard someone state, Church architecture, done well, is itself a form of evangelism.
And I wonder, centuries hence, will [i] anything [/i] built during our generation – churches or other large public buildings – be admired for its beauty and grandeur?
The thing that gives me peace is that unworthy prelates and their underlings have occupied sacred spaces off and on for generations, and yet the faith endures. Notre Dame in Paris was a hog pen for nihilists who desecrated the Christian faith. Look now. The story goes on. Chane, Schori, Bruno, et al will moulder and fade, but the faith will continue in a revived witness, thanks in part to the sermons in stone. But for now it is Shakespeare: they fret and strut their time on stage, but soon will be no more.
Oh, Salisbury would be too easy! As for our era’s enduring church statements, i think the Washington National Cathedral will outlive the occasionally foolish events that take place inside her, ditto Saint John the Divine in New York City, but they are homages to the Gothic. Valparaiso University’s Chapel of the Resurrection is a good example of the best of modern architecture for worshipful purposes, as is the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs. I’m not at all impressed by the Los Angeles Catholic cathedral or many other modern “achievements” that are clearly trying hard to be just that, human achievements, but i’m sure i’m missing some that will shake out of the dross heap over time. But for large, liturgical spaces, i think those four will stand for the 20th century well into whatever future God allows!
Thanks for the soul-stirring link. Not to worship stones, but architecture has to play a role in conveying revelation . . .
St. John the divine is a bit odd at the moment with the nave totally blocked off save for a ‘tunnel’ down the middle to the Great Crossing for cleaning after the 2001 fire. But the cleaned bits are looking amazing, and amazingly Christian . . . (Ooops, I didn’t say that. And, yes, re-appraisers can have those feelings, too.)
I got 12, all thanks to Pevsner — not been to the auld sod!
I once heard someone state, Church architecture, done well, is itself a form of evangelism.
And I wonder, centuries hence, will [i] anything [/i] built during our generation – churches or other large public buildings – be admired for its beauty and grandeur?
The thing that gives me peace is that unworthy prelates and their underlings have occupied sacred spaces off and on for generations, and yet the faith endures. Notre Dame in Paris was a hog pen for nihilists who desecrated the Christian faith. Look now. The story goes on. Chane, Schori, Bruno, et al will moulder and fade, but the faith will continue in a revived witness, thanks in part to the sermons in stone. But for now it is Shakespeare: they fret and strut their time on stage, but soon will be no more.
Of the group, I got only Ely. Some of these cathedrals I had never heard of!
I got Ely and Guildford. I kept looking for Salisbury to no avail.
Oh, Salisbury would be too easy! As for our era’s enduring church statements, i think the Washington National Cathedral will outlive the occasionally foolish events that take place inside her, ditto Saint John the Divine in New York City, but they are homages to the Gothic. Valparaiso University’s Chapel of the Resurrection is a good example of the best of modern architecture for worshipful purposes, as is the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs. I’m not at all impressed by the Los Angeles Catholic cathedral or many other modern “achievements” that are clearly trying hard to be just that, human achievements, but i’m sure i’m missing some that will shake out of the dross heap over time. But for large, liturgical spaces, i think those four will stand for the 20th century well into whatever future God allows!
Thanks for the soul-stirring link. Not to worship stones, but architecture has to play a role in conveying revelation . . .
St. John the divine is a bit odd at the moment with the nave totally blocked off save for a ‘tunnel’ down the middle to the Great Crossing for cleaning after the 2001 fire. But the cleaned bits are looking amazing, and amazingly Christian . . . (Ooops, I didn’t say that. And, yes, re-appraisers can have those feelings, too.)
Here are some shots I took two weeks ago:
Dirk
#6: Don’t forget Kalamazoo!
And All Saint’s Chapel at Sewanee, as well as St Philip’s in Atlanta (which look very similar)