The gospel in architecture

[Hans Deventer]

Last Saturday, Hannie and I were in Ronchamp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronchamp), a village in Eastern France. Its only claim to fame is the chapel build there in the 1950's that was designed by French architect Le Corbusier. I knew the chapel from a picture, never gave it much thought but Hannie wanted to visit it and since it was only a small detour, we went.

I was pleasantly surprised. It is a small chapel really, but inside it has a few "private" chapels, as Catholic churches often have, that are nothing short of truly awesome in the literal sense of that overused word. They brought me to prayer instantly. The simple structure, nothing but a table with a small empty cross, a candle and an open Bible. And light coming from above. I could have stayed there a long time. This is all I seek in a church building: pointing me to God. I can't count the number of churches I have seen through my life. This one beats them all, hands down.

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[Hans Deventer]

These pictures show a little more: Hannie sitting next to the table, and a shot from the outside. The previous pictures show the inside of the structure left of the entrance door.

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[Eric Buell]

Beautiful pictures. This is something that doesn't get much attention in today's church. At least from what I can see here in the US Protestant churches.

A great read on this subject is "A Theology of the Built Environment: Justice, Empowerment, Redemption" by T.J. Gorringe.

[Edith Thurmond]

Hans and Eric, I so agree and have even voiced it on here in years past! Architecture, light/ing, stone, bricks, mortar, paint, fabric, metal, wood, glass, color, etc. should all point one to God and can even tell the the story of God and his people, from the beginning to the present. It matters not whether a structure is simple or ornate if it accomplishes this purpose.

Thanks for sharing, Hans!

-et-

[Lorie Hatcliff]

I agree. Our church right now is the typical 90's sanctunasium (sp?) but it's all we can afford. We have the cinderblocks going up the walls on all sides. I know worship can take place anywhere, but in a setting like these pictures, it almost happens spontaneously.

[Wilson Deaton]

sanctunasium (sp?)

:smilies1404: Perhaps the spelling is a matter of perspective:

sanctinasium = a gymnasium that has been made holy (sanctified gymnasium)
sanctunaisum = a sanctuary that doubles as a gymnasium (sanctuary/gymnasium)

One way or the other, my church hopes to build one some day... Right now we have more of a sanctufellowship hall. It's a multi-purpose space but it's too small to be a gym. We've had dinners in it, game night in it, worship in it, party in it, teen quiz in it, seminar in it, etc.

I think I could really go for a small prayer chapel inside a larger building like the one in Hans' photo, but I don't think I could bring myself to devoting the space/money to a LARGE sanctuary-only space.

Wilson

[Billy Cox]

:smilies1404: Perhaps the spelling is a matter of perspective:

sanctinasium = a gymnasium that has been made holy (sanctified gymnasium)
sanctunaisum = a sanctuary that doubles as a gymnasium (sanctuary/gymnasium)


As part of a church still worshipping in its 'temporary' sanctinasium for the past 15 years, there is a world of difference between a gym that you can also worship in, versus a sanctuary that you can also play basketball in.

There are some creative ways to 'reclaim' the gym space as a place of worship, but it doesn't happen by fiat. :)

[Eric Frey]

but it's all we can afford. .

I hear this all the time. I just don't believe it. It's like when someone tells me they don't have time. I don't believe them either. It is not a matter of money or time, it is a matter of priority. For many churches beauty simply isn't as high of a priority as flexibility. Great beauty can be made with lots of money or very little. It is just a matter of priority.

[Lorie Hatcliff]

Well, you're all right. Three years ago we hired a children's pastor and last year a youth pastor because we wanted to invest more in ministry than our building. So, ministry has become a priority.

A sanctinasium (using Billy's spelling now) is great in that it provides a large space to move around and convert for other uses. But it also provides a problem in that it is hard to keep beautiful for worship. Like Billy said, it doesn't happen by fiat. If a room is having to be stripped down week after week for volleyball and then dressed up for Sunday morning, you get congregational members that get worn out pretty quickly by doing so. Then there's the problem of the equipment (lighting, soundboards, the large cross on the wall, pianos in the corner) getting hit by flying basketballs.

One thing we've been doing lately is buy banners to cut down on the huge empty wall space. We intend to buy more so hopefully that will help out some.

We are also no longer the church that hosts the church volleyball league. That has helped in taking down/putting up, but it also probably cuts down one of our areas of ministry if we are not hosting.

[Rich Schmidt]

I was pleasantly surprised. It is a small chapel really, but inside it has a few "private" chapels, as Catholic churches often have, that are nothing short of truly awesome in the literal sense of that overused word. They brought me to prayer instantly. The simple structure, nothing but a table with a small empty cross, a candle and an open Bible. And light coming from above. I could have stayed there a long time. This is all I seek in a church building: pointing me to God. I can't count the number of churches I have seen through my life. This one beats them all, hands down.

Just curious, Hans, since the conversation has turned in this direction:

Are you saying that you wish more churches had small, worshipful, point-you-to-God private chapels in them?

Or are you saying that you wish more churches designed their whole worship area (sanctuary, whatever) in that direction?

I don't know what the rest of that chapel in Ronchamp looks like. Did their main sanctuary have a similar impact on you?

[Eric Buell]

As part of a church still worshipping in its 'temporary' sanctinasium for the past 15 years, there is a world of difference between a gym that you can also worship in, versus a sanctuary that you can also play basketball in.

There are some creative ways to 'reclaim' the gym space as a place of worship, but it doesn't happen by fiat. :)

I toured in Central Ohio with one of our DSs from Chiapas, Mexico a few years ago. The first time we entered a building that doubled as a gym and a sanctuary he started to laugh really hard. He said that down in Chiapas it was considered blasphemous to have hoops in the sanctuary. He loved the idea though.

This topic of places/spaces seems to be a double-edged sword for us in the church. We want to be practical and utilize space in several different ways - while many are also drawn to the set apart/beautiful spaces that inspire us. On a little field trip for a seminary class we visited a huge Scientology church in L.A. and a Church of Self-Realization - the contrast in the spaces was striking. One (Scientology) looked like a sales office while the CSR was in a beautiful setting with gardens, fountains, chimes, etc. It's an interesting exercise to think about the theology of our spaces/places.

It seems to me that in the US we value practicality and affordability in our church buildings over aesthetics. Just my impression from my travels.

[Hans Deventer]

Are you saying that you wish more churches had small, worshipful, point-you-to-God private chapels in them?

Or are you saying that you wish more churches designed their whole worship area (sanctuary, whatever) in that direction?

The latter.


I don't know what the rest of that chapel in Ronchamp looks like. Did their main sanctuary have a similar impact on you?

No, it didn't.

[Rich Schmidt]

The latter.

No, it didn't.

So... this church beats every other church you've seen throughout your life, hands down... but even its main worship area isn't able to capture the same worship-inspiring feel you got from the private chapel.

I'm wondering if this might be an example of unrealistic expectations...? That's problematic for those who are responsible for designing worship spaces, leading churches, etc. It reminds me somewhat of people who are so moved by their private times of worship (perhaps while listening to professionally-produced CDs of worship music) and then are frustrated that their times of corporate worship with the gathered church don't move them in the same way.

Just thinking out loud...

[Hans Deventer]

So... this church beats every other church you've seen throughout your life, hands down... but even its main worship area isn't able to capture the same worship-inspiring feel you got from the private chapel.

I'm wondering if this might be an example of unrealistic expectations...? That's problematic for those who are responsible for designing worship spaces, leading churches, etc. It reminds me somewhat of people who are so moved by their private times of worship (perhaps while listening to professionally-produced CDs of worship music) and then are frustrated that their times of corporate worship with the gathered church don't move them in the same way.

Just thinking out loud...

Hmmm, this isn't going in the right direction. Let's start again:

I came into this church, and was moved by the chapel places inside. The simple but profound architecture touched me and brought me to worship. I'm sorry, but this is what happened.

By the way, it is not that much of a private place. It is an open corner in the church. People walked by while I stood there.

As to the main area, it was nice too, but the corner spoke to me more.


Reflecting on it, I realised that architecture can have a strong impact, more than I would have granted it before. Since no church ever had this impact on me, I wrote the post as I did.

Do I have unrealistic expectations? I really didn't have any when I entered there.

Now on to church architecture in general. Is it possible to do more with it than is usually done? Answer: yes. I guess even the architecture of the old European cathedrals had a message. I don't see much of a message in today's churches, but I am no expert on church architecture and I only speak from what I have seen. I'd love to be proven wrong.

For the record, sometimes I'm moved in my private devotions, sometimes I'm moved in church by simply seeing people come forward to receive the Eucharist. Sometimes it's a U2 song. Sometimes it's a good worship song. Sometimes in my car, sometimes in church. I don't think I fit your description.

[Rich Schmidt]

Hmmm, this isn't going in the right direction.

It felt to me like the thread was moving in a "critical of santinasiums" direction, so I went back to look at your initial post and realized I needed a little clarification.


Let's start again:

I came into this church, and was moved by the chapel places inside. The simple but profound architecture touched me and brought me to worship. I'm sorry, but this is what happened.

By the way, it is not that much of a private place. It is an open corner in the church. People walked by while I stood there.

As to the main area, it was nice too, but the corner spoke to me more.


Reflecting on it, I realised that architecture can have a strong impact, more than I would have granted it before. Since no church ever had this impact on me, I wrote the post as I did.

And I appreciate your observations, both here and in the initial post. Beautiful photos of the chapel, by the way. :)


Do I have unrealistic expectations? I really didn't have any when I entered there.

What would be unrealistic, I think, would be to expect that every church could/should try to give worshipers the same awe-inspiring vibe you got from that side-chapel.


Now on to church architecture in general. Is it possible to do more with it than is usually done? Answer: yes. I guess even the architecture of the old European cathedrals had a message. I don't see much of a message in today's churches, but I am no expert on church architecture and I only speak from what I have seen. I'd love to be proven wrong.

I think all architecture has a message... it's just different messages, depending on the church's priorities, theology, etc. I think Eric's post (#11) illustrated this well. The message of some church buildings is: "This is just a convenient place to gather. Nothing sacred about this space. What matters is what we do when we leave here." While the message of some other church buildings is: "Be careful! Don't get that dirty!" :)

I agree that we should think about the messages our spaces send and the emotional/relational environments they help create.


For the record, sometimes I'm moved in my private devotions, sometimes I'm moved in church by simply seeing people come forward to receive the Eucharist. Sometimes it's a U2 song. Sometimes it's a good worship song. Sometimes in my car, sometimes in church. I don't think I fit your description.

Many people don't. I don't. It was just an example.