Does a church building and its architecture influence how we worship and perceive God? If we believe that the church is not the building, but its people, the simple answer should be “no.” However, through the ages Christians have erected hundreds of magnificent churches, cathedrals, and abbeys. I have travelled on both the Rhine and Danube Rivers and visited special places, like Cologne Cathedral and Melk Abbey. Recently, I was able to visit Westminster Abbey (located in the city of Westminster, London); St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Dublin, Ireland) and Rosslyn Chapel (Rosslyn, Scotland near Edinburgh). In each place, I experienced a spiritual resonance. When I looked up at the stained glass, the elaborate design and traceries, carvings, and paintings, I couldn’t help but think about how creating all of this was an act of worship itself.
I did not tour Westminster Abbey, but I had the privilege of attending Evensong, a regular daily service. An Anglican church it offers daily services for all, and it is a World Heritage Site with over a thousand years of history. Handed a laminated program, all of us could follow the elements of the liturgy. As the organ began and the choir sang, my eyes scanned the beautiful tracery, and the rose window. There was an incredibly special feeling that overcame me, bringing tears to my eyes. I tried to concentrate on God and my prayers; I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was in the place where British monarchs have been crowned and buried since 1066. (As an aside, Steven Hawking is buried in the Abbey.) God was there in that place. I carried that feeling with me.
Several days later, I was able to tour St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. It was a Sunday, and the tour guide had to get us out of the building since their regular Sunday service started at 3 p.m. The building has been there in some form or another since 1220-1259. Originally a Catholic church, after the English reformation, it became an Anglican church. Its stained-glass windows tell Bible stories and were used to educate the illiterate. Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels) was Dean from 1713-1745. The church itself contains many family memorials and statues. But like other churches, the tracery, and windows, and even the decorated floors, resonate with praise to God. Just before we left the building, the choir began, and the organ played. As we walked out the door, the bells chimed. Chills ran down my spine. I spent time later in the day thinking again about the art of the thousands of individuals who worked on the construction, rebuilding, and remodeling of the building. Art is both inspired by God and in return, its creation is in praise of God.
The third church was Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin (outside of Edinburgh, Scotland). You may recall it from the book by Dan Brown, The DaVinci Code (2003). Brown admits he took historical liberties in authoring the book. The real chapel was begun in 1446 and completed after the death of Sir William St. Clair whose son saw it to completion. It was a “family” chapel. It remains full of mystery, legends, and myths. One of the most remarkable myths is that the Knights Templar (1200’s) used it. They were already long gone; none remained in the 1400’s. Every surface inside and outside is filled with elaborately carved arches, pillars, and other decorations. The Green Man appears over 100 times. Its origin is still only speculation. Is it derived from a Celtic God or from Greek and Roman beliefs? Is it a symbol of the life cycle? Many Green Men were recovered during repairs and renovations. The speculation is that numerous carvings were done by apprentice masons, thus the Masonic symbolism. Some places you can see a whole row of roses, or other carvings, as if a mason were learning a new skill and was practicing. There was again a special feeling that engulfed me as I listened to the docent inside the chapel. I was filled with awe at the decorations. God had given the builders, the masons, and the restorers special talents. Once again it was their art that praised God. Since the publication of the DaVinci Code, Rosslyn Chapel has become a busy tourist attraction, and the Rosslyn Chapel Trust has been able to continue its repairs, restorations, and preservation work at a faster pace!
These great churches were built little by little, over centuries. Before the English reformation, they were designed so that when people entered, they were impressed with a visual sense of what heaven might be like. The interiors were made to give people vision and hope; they do that to this day.
Today, Church is not all about the building. However, God is at Trinity. The simple lines, the stained-glass windows, the light are part of an atmosphere where we worshipers meet with God. My personal favorite piece of décor, is the large crucifix encircled by we, the people, doing the “radical work of Christ.”
