What is your favourite form of Church Architecture?

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SanJudas said:
Monstrous?

Our ancestors built large and well-adorned houses of worship in order to reflect the Majesty and Glory of God. Their construction usually took decades, or even centuries, and thousands of the anonymous faithful labored on them. When completed, they were a testimony to that people’s faith which any visitor or member of a future generation could see.
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Thus the term “monstrous”. You disagree that they are huge, even in relation to the number of faithful that it can hold?

I meant no indignity with the term, I was merely pointing out the sheer mass of the photos submitted here, and in similar threads.
 
SanJudas said:
Monstrous?

Our ancestors built large and well-adorned houses of worship in order to reflect the Majesty and Glory of God. Their construction usually took decades, or even centuries, and thousands of the anonymous faithful labored on them. When completed, they were a testimony to that people’s faith which any visitor or member of a future generation could see.
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Here is my favorite “monstrous” church.

pbase.com/xradiotx/rhineland

An amazing story, in line with your above post. The population of this town is about 300 total. It is referred to as “The Cathedral in the Cotton Patch”.
 
Joannm said:
I have seen pics of all the tapestries and I especially like the one of the baptism of Jesus. Coincidently last night I caught the end of a program on our diocesan TV station about the cathedral which was like a virtual tour. I will have to see if they re-broadcast it.

While in California I am also going to visit a mission church in Oceanside that the church where I work was designed after. Since we have a picture of that church in our parish hall I am going to bring them a picture and a history of our church (which mentiones them). Their church is on the National Register of Historic Places…ours is not.
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San Luis Rey de Francia – The King of the California Missions… 👍

(FWIW San Luis Rey would have been considered “ugly” and “crude” back in the early 1800’s by the same sorts who attack OLAC today)

http://image03.webshots.com/3/9/66/78/157396678cFZNxJ_fs.jpg
 
ethelzguy said:
Does it strike anyone odd, that nobody here seems to like “simple” or “humble” churches?

Was Christ not humble? Did he not exhort us to be humble?

Just wondering…:confused:
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Well in that case why doesn’t the clergy just wear burlap vestments. 😉

I like simple churches too, but I like monstrous ones better.

Hows this for simplicity? One of my faves…A typical Shoenstatt chapel.

This is a plain one in Nebraska.

http://home.windstream.net/christensenr/Shrine.JPG

This one in Nueva Helvicia, Paraguay is adorned by nature.
http://www.schoenstatt.de/news2003/01januar/bilder/3b0137heiligtuemer_lwf0003.jpg

Portside view of the shrine in Minnesota.
http://www.schoenstattmn.org/shrine.jpg

Another one decorated by nature in Mulgoa, New South Wales
http://national.atdw.com.au/multimedia/tnsw/o9013968.jpg

Last but not east the original Chapel in Vallendar, Germany

http://www.schoenstatt.de/s_info/bilder/1b0317_3639_kardinal_uht.jpg
 
A better world for monstrous might be “large” or something similar. Monstrous has the added connotation of “ugly”:

monstrous (mŏn**’**strəs) http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/pron.gif

adj.

  1. *]Shockingly hideous or frightful.
    *]Exceptionally large; enormous: a monstrous tidal wave.
    *]Deviating greatly from the norm in appearance or structure; abnormal.
    *]Of or resembling a fabulous monster.
    [Middle English, from Old French *monstruos, from Latin mōnstruōsus, from mōnstrum, portent, monster.
 
Spiller said:
Except for its price and some of its furnishings, this place is really growing on me:

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/...thedral-of-our-lady-of-the-angels-wp-gfdl.jpg
http://www.terragalleria.com/images/us-ca/usca35329.jpeg

I didn’t really think too much of it until I celebrated the Mass in it and then it sorta hit me. Many church buildings are works of art in themselves. This building is all about presenting the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the absolute ultimate and divine work of art to man.
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I like the setup they have for confession at OLAC. The reconciliation chapel in a nook along the northern ambulatory and has options for face-face or a screen. I went on Good Friday and the Cardinal himself was hearing confessions. One of the priests I normally go to was there, so I went to the priest.
 
SJP said:
Spiller;3877316:
LOL

So remind me again, where would I find the Tabernacle? Would I take an immediate right upon entering the Church or would I proceed through the Church and then take a right? Any stairs involved?
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You would walk in the main doors under the unfortunate statue of our Lady (looks like an androgynous figure…only the moon at her feet and the halo give away who it is) then you make the second right up the ambulatory (it’s almost a U-turn because the door is right next to the ambulatory). It’s in an alcove with a glass door that is clearly marked “Blessed Sacrament Chapel.” If you don’t know it’s there, you could always ask one of the several people who work for the cathedral who are in easy reach just to assist you.

And like other said, OLAC receives so many visitors that it’s best to place the Blessed Sacrament in special location away from the possibility of some touron (tourist/moron) acting disrespectful of our Lord.
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Spiller said:
I agree and it finally hit me. While I will never defend the price or some of the furnishings here is my conclusion:

Some great church buildings are works of art in themselves. They are often defective in many ways – ventilation, temperature, lighting, sight lines, etc. but they are indeed works of art in themselves.

OLAC on the other hand is all about showcasing the greatest work of art – the Divine Work of Art – the Blessed Sacrament, and the architect used every resource available to make that happen. There are no stations of the cross or confessionals in the nave of the OLAC. The entire focus is on the sanctuary and more specifically the altar and ambo.
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One of the more amazing things about OLAC is the sound system. You can be anywhere in the nave and hear the priest just as though he were standing next to you. There are speakers installed in the downward “trumpet” fixtures haning from the ceiling and the effect is amazing. No echo and excellent acoustics.

Also, I love the tapestries along the walls.
 
Brennan_Doherty said:
A better world for monstrous might be “large” or something similar. Monstrous has the added connotation of “ugly”:

monstrous (mŏn**’**strəs) http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/pron.gif

adj.

  1. *]Shockingly hideous or frightful.
    *]Exceptionally large; enormous: a monstrous tidal wave.
    *]Deviating greatly from the norm in appearance or structure; abnormal.
    *]Of or resembling a fabulous monster.
    [Middle English, from Old French *monstruos
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  1. , from Latin mōnstruōsus, from mōnstrum, portent, monster.

    okay gang, let’s go with Two and Three (to some extent).

    No offense intended at all…just pointing out the enormity of the structures proffered for discussion. 😃
 
Spiller said:
There are no stations of the cross or confessionals in the nave of the OLAC. The entire focus is on the sanctuary and more specifically the altar and ambo.
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Why? Do the stations and confessionals somehow contradict the sanctuary and ambo? I thought that their theology supported each other. And if they contradict. why have them at all?

OLAC represents the triumph of Modernism over Catholic tradition and sensibilities. And in case it matters–yes indeed, I HAVE been there, but will never return.

Every time I see OLAC, I can’t help but be reminded of this:
i93.photobucket.com/albums/l44/ozylot/TheBorg.jpg
 
E.E.N.S said:
I am assuming that you are joking about the church in the link you posted - it is hideous and the antithesis of gothic or baroque!
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No, I’m not joking. Just because I love Mozart doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate Eddy Arnold & Bill Anderson and it’s the same here. There is something about that chapel that greatly appeals to me.
 
Dauphin said:
I’m a huge fan of Gothic, but I was recently impressed by the Baroque Cathedral-Basilica Notre Dame de Quebec, in Quebec City:

Now I’m undecided.
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I like Gothic and Baroque. I think we need to be sensitive to environmental concerns and somehow downsize these buildings which are so hard to heat in winter.

I was in this very tall gothic church (St Columba) in Ottawa Illinois, one winter. I made the mistake of underdressing, thinking that it would be warm in church. There’s no way to heat that enormous vault. That church has a pea green interior, which is perhaps a concession to the Irish. It made me a bit queasy.
 
ethelzguy said:
okay gang, let’s go with Two and Three (to some extent).

No offense intended at all…just pointing out the enormity of the structures proffered for discussion. 😃
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LOL. There you go again. “Enormity” is another one of those words. I recall the old litanyin the *Book of Common Prayer: *“From the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities: Good Lord, deliver us.”

Tee hee.
 
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