Where is your church located?

[tradconvert]

In many parts of the world like the US, Canada and Australia which are all countries settled after the protestant reformation it is my clear impression that the Catholics made every effort to build their churches not just with a tall steeple or spire but more particularly on a hilltop or the highest point of the town/city village in which they are built. While these beautiful edifices were built to the greater glory of God the almighty, I have the theory that this was to ensure that no-one in the town or wherever would have any difficulty in understanding which is the one true Church - the Catholic church. I’m sure there are lots of exceptions to this “rule”, but I’d be interested in what the poll shows up.

Of course in Europe, it often was the case pre Luther/reformation that THE Church was also on a hill, commanding a position of majesty and respect. Further in some of those parts of the world where the Catholic church is not as strong as non-Catholic sects or other religions the prominence of the Catholic church may be less obvious.

 

[THutch04]

I answered according to what it CURRENTLY is. The first Catholic church in town was actually built in one of the lowest sections. The current one, however, is pretty much on the same level. It’s the same with all the Catholic churches in my area that I can think of. All of the ones in my general area are basically built on the same level as non-Catholic churches. Some are higher, some are lower, but it’s all pretty much the same.

 

[InnocentIII]

I answered Other because in my town it is the only church. there used to be a small Anglican church tucked away down a side street but it was closed long ago. Also the town is small and located on a flat in a loop of the river so there really is no chance of it being any higher or lower than any other building.

Nonetheless I would support your observation at least as far as Australia is concerned. My hobby is my website “Catholic Churches of Australia” so I know a little whereof I speak. Having been settled later than North America as a penal colony with a significant number of Irish convicts sent out after the rebellion in the late 1700’s sectarianism was very strong here on both sides. Convicts were required to attend Anglican services under penalty of flogging and official obstacles were constantly being put in the way of Catholics. As a result the Australian Catholic Church was very Irish influenced and thus was both politically as well as religiously opposed to the Establishment. Accordingly when the Catholic Church was given freedom of worship about the mid-1800’s there was still a residue of anti-English and therefore anti-Anglican feeling. So there was a kind of unspoken law in most locations that we Catholics should either have the highest spot in town or failing that the highest steeple. There are many examples in Australia and usually when I go church-crawling the first thing I look for is the high spot in town and generally that is where the Catholic church will be located. One of the most amusing (just to show it was not always one-sided) is in Orange where the Catholic church was built on a low hill in the centre of town. The lower Anglican church has the highest steeple I have ever seen. While built to the greater glory of God many of these were also built to the greater glory of the Catholic church. Interestingly the non-cons generally had theirs tucked in little side streets and rarely took part in this religious one-up-manship, but then they were always smaller in numbers.

 

[tradconvert]

Your description of country towns in Australia tallies with my own experience - when I used to visit country Australia, the scene you paint was often something I saw - ie the Catholic Church on the hill - sometimes the only hill and with a steeple. But sometimes the Anglicans - perhaps with more money in the days gone by - had built one with an even higher steeple.