Photographer Captures Decaying Churches Abandoned in Western Europe

[Alex_H]

Haunting pictures of Western Europe’s once grand houses of God, now left to decay, show how traditional Christian worship has fallen out of favor.

Stunning shots show the still-ornate interior of abandoned churches in France, Belgium and Italy, while others display the crumbling, creaking remains where damage has occurred.

Stained-glass windows adorn one church, and it is not hard to imagine the huge hall full of churchgoers who came to worship on any given Sunday.

French engineer and urban explorer Maxime Cotte from Grenoble captured the images as he traveled through Europe. (Caters News)

Loss of Faith (Link)

 

[Tomdstone]

Sad to see these magnificient churches abandoned. At the same time, Islam is growing quite rapidly in europe and all over the world. In our neighborhood, the Muslim family has six children and generally speaking it has been noted that the Muslim fertility rate is greater than that of the Roman Catholics. The abortion rate of Roman Catholics in the USA and their use of contraception is reported to be not too much different from the general population. There are even well known Roman Catholics presiding voluntarily and happily at SS weddings. The sociology department of a Roman Catholic college conducted a survey on the acceptability of contraception among Roman Catholic students. When entering, about 50% of the Roman Catholic students said that they saw nothing wrong with married couples using ABC. However, after having taken the mandatory theology and ethics courses from the Roman Catholic college, that number rose for the graduating seniors to about 90% believing ABC was acceptable for married couples. Under Obamacare most people are required to have health insurance. Which is OK, except that it is believed that the various health groups push contraceptives on women of child bearing age. They promote them and distribute various literature explaining why family planning is beneficial.

 

[Memaw]

Sad to see these magnificient churches abandoned. At the same time, Islam is growing quite rapidly in europe and all over the world. In our neighborhood, the Muslim family has six children and generally speaking it has been noted that the Muslim fertility rate is greater than that of the Roman Catholics. The abortion rate of Roman Catholics in the USA and their use of contraception is reported to be not too much different from the general population. There are even well known Roman Catholics presiding voluntarily and happily at SS weddings. The sociology department of a Roman Catholic college conducted a survey on the acceptability of contraception among Roman Catholic students. When entering, about 50% of the Roman Catholic students said that they saw nothing wrong with married couples using ABC. However, after having taken the mandatory theology and ethics courses from the Roman Catholic college, that number rose for the graduating seniors to about 90% believing ABC was acceptable for married couples. Under Obamacare most people are required to have health insurance. Which is OK, except that it is believed that the various health groups push contraceptives on women of child bearing age. They promote them and distribute various literature explaining why family planning is beneficial.

God have Mercy on us and I do believe us Catholics will have more to answer for as we have the fullness of TRUTH. 25 years ago my 15 year old son got that in a Catholic High School and when he told me, I went to our Bishop and he put a stop to it then. Out went the Nun that was doing it. Don’t know where she went but she didn’t teach there anymore. I doubt that stopped her tho. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Tim_D]

While it is certainly a shame that such buildings are falling into disrepair, the sad fact is probably that it would cost significant amounts of money for their upkeep. If they can’t serve a thriving parish population, then what is one to do? There is certainly no shortage of churches in France and Italy. Unfortunately, some are bound to fall by the wayside.

 

[Rosebud77]

Maybe I see this differently from here in Ireland? The trend here is to build new churches. So the ruined ones are simply the older abandoned ones not a loss of faith?

I can think of five within an hours drive of me, and that is just Catholic churches. The vast majority are Anglican that are used for secular purposes now, something I abhor.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Why aren’t these beautiful churches being put to use somehow? Too much money to upkeep? They can be used to shelter homeless or help people in need somehow…or rented for events or as museums or…so, so many things.
If they are not going to be used as churches…what a shame they are just sitting empty!

.

I wonder if part of the reason they are abandoned is because of structural issues. There have been a number of earthquakes for example in Italy in the past 50 or so years. It could be that these churches were structurally not sound and rebuilt in another location .

Sadly these images had me remember the horrific scene in “Two Women”.

 

[JimG]

Those photos seem to be a metaphor for a dying Europe and a dying Christianity in Europe. Soon Europe will be Islamic.

 

[Vim71]

the Muslim family has six children and generally speaking it has been noted that the Muslim fertility rate is greater than that of the Roman Catholics.

We need to pray that more young adults start marrying, start having families, and reject this progressive nonsense. If we do nothing, in 20-30 years expect to see more images like the ones posted, and even some showing only a pew or two full in the Churchs that remain open.

 

[Tomdstone]

Why aren’t these beautiful churches being put to use somehow?
.

Some Roman Catholic Churches have been converted to Islamic mosques. Islam is a rapidly growing religion.

 

[didymus]

I would hope that these churches be demolished rather than “re-purposed”. The original buyer may have good intentions but they could be sold later and profaned.
I’ve also read that some places in Europe Muslims have simply occupied churches and turned them into mosques.

 

[StudentMI]

This reminds me of a video I saw recently, where the drone metal band Sunn O))) performed in a Dominican parish in Belgium. It was an amazing performance, and not the least bit disrespectful.

 

[JimG]

I wouldn’t say a “dying Europe” Is Europe dying? I mean, any more than any other time we’ve seen cultures and buildings there ebb and flow, rise and fall?

I also wouldn’t think that Europe will “be Islamic” soon. Or, you’d have to define “soon”.

Right now, if the rate continues to increase as it is, I think the Muslim population is expected to be 8 percent of Europe’s total population by 2030, according to Pew Research.
That’s not so much.
And even if the Muslim religion does one day become the majority in Europe…it’s not as though one area of land is designated for only one religion or faith forever.
If that were the case, Christianity would have never have been able to take off.
.

Yes, I think Europe is dying–spiritually for sure, and demographically as well, and probably economically. Europe was built by Christianity and was once a Christian civilization. But it has rejected its Christian heritage. It has lost its soul, and secularism cannot replace it. Islam will most likely replace it.