Church interiors reverting to traditional look

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I think the altar looks nice overall. The style blends well with the architecture. The height is okay (though I wouldn’t go any taller) but I do think it is far to wide for the space. The side altar-looking things to the left and the right of the main altar structure really bring the altar out of proportion with the rest of the sanctuary.
 
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I peronally love a traditional looking chuch since Im traditional .🙂
 
CTBcin said:
I think the altar looks nice overall. The style blends well with the architecture. The height is okay (though I wouldn’t go any taller) but I do think it is far to wide for the space. The side altar-looking things to the left and the right of the main altar structure really bring the altar out of proportion with the rest of the sanctuary.
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I was of the same opinion with regard to the proportions and that the side pieces make it appear slightly squat. The statues on the main altar also ‘feel’ a bit too large, like they would be better proportioned if they were scaled down 20%. Overall I think it is fine (less the blue on the predella), but it just seems slightly unbalanced.
 
Usige said:
The statues on the main altar also ‘feel’ a bit too large, like they would be better proportioned if they were scaled down 20%.
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I was thinking the same thing when I saw the image. The only one the feels like it’s relatively correctly sized for the opening is the St Anthony (not sure about it, but the left side) statue.
 
How will people be able to pray and focus on God without all of the pastel colored banners??? 😄
 
True story: 10+ years ago, I had to attend a family wedding which was held in a RC church. I never would have known it was a Catholic church if I hadn’t seen the statues of Our Lady, Our Lord and the Stations on the walls because there was NO altar. (It was moved to a side room. 😱)

The tabernacle was literally right inside the entrance to the nave in the front, and I was 3 rows away from it. People were nonchalantly passing by Our Lord! 😥

The next day (Sunday), my parents, my friend & I went to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet, NY. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! Icons everywhere, incense, 2 ushers, 8 altar boys and a marvelous choir! We sat on the third row from the left (Our Lady’s side). During the Little Entrance, when the priest processes with the Holy Gospel, he came to us so we could venerate the Holy Gospel! My father was in tears, he was so happy. (And my late father almost never cried.) In my parish the only time we ever kissed the Gospel was on Good Friday when venerating the Tomb, so for us to kiss the Holy Gospel was an unexpected blessing. (Sadly, we couldn’t do that this year.)
 
As soon as I saw the altar photo you posted I was reminded of our Mission San Fernando:

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It represents the piety of an earlier time, and one that many still hold. I almost always find something uplifting in any church, be it traditional or modern, elaborate or austere.

This mission church was also a renovation. The original altar was much simpler. The current retablo came from a 17th century Spanish church and was installed here in the 1980s.
 
Hmm, if you were in the Troy/Watervliet/Cohoes area I could almost guess which RC church you were in —Watervliet, between St. Nicholas and St. Ann (Maronite) is like a little piece of heaven. If you go near Troy again, though, go into the downtown to St. Joseph’s. Two words: Latin Mass (and one Tiffany window is glorious).
 
christofirst said:
piety of an earlier time
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I think that says a lot. Not that clutter = piety but piety these days is not prominent on our culture.
I like things a little more austere, simple and maybe that sounds protestant.
 
That has been my argument in favor of the austere interior of our cathedral here in Los Angeles. Outside there is much commotion, and our senses can be overwhelmed with sights and sounds. What we need now, especially in a city like ours, to take our minds off of the strictly physical realm and onto the spiritual, is a place of peace, simplicity and serenity. Others disagree.
 
Our church was remodeled this past year. Sorry about the quality of the lighting in the first picture.

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After:
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I like it clear. Abby of Gethsemani:
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Of course it is Trappist.
 
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You would like the chapel at New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, if you haven’t already been there. Austere to the max. Nothing to attract or distract the senses
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