Church Architecture

[dragoniatiegre]

Here's an interesting idea for a thread; talk about your favorite religious building, and include pictures if possible.

I don't have the time to post pics tonight, but while stationed in Germany, I got the chance to visit Paris, and I saw Notre Dame de Paris. I was awed by it, and loved the gargoyles. The place was beautiful, and a testament of the love of people for their Lord, and their desire to give Him the best.

I'll post some pics when I can.

[A New Dawn]

When I was in England, I went to the Salisbury Cathedral. It was awesome.

http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/img/gallery/large/nref_5.jpg

http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/img/gallery/large/ref_enws_1_6_9.jpg

[Secundulus]

Here is our National Cathedral, right here in Washington, D.C.

http://blog.aia.org/mt-static/plugins/Ajaxify/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/imagemanager/images/favorite_architecture_images/3_washington_national_cathedral_lg.jpg

[Idea]

https://secure.lds.org/images/localunits/39573_chapel_st.jpg
I prefer the more humble typical church buildings… where people go to church not to see an impressive building, but to meet with their brothers and sisters…

1 Nephi 11: 36 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great.

When I see a large spacious building, I think – there is someone who is trying to compensate for something… hide something…fake superficial prideful self-centered… Yes – it is good to be clean, and presentable – but there is a big difference between some gaudy show - wanton wastefulness, and respect for God. In buildings, in the way people dress on Sunday… are they trying to impress/show respect for God or is their purpose to parade themselves before everyone. There is a fine line between the two…

[A New Dawn]

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/HAR/riverside_church_8.jpg

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/HAR/HAR009.htm

When I lived in Manhattan, I lived about a block north of Riverside church. They had a community arts and crafts program there and I started taking stained glass classes, did so for about 4 years. The church is really neat, but has faced problems similar to many churches of it's nature over the last 20 years, which is sad.

[skylark1]

I prefer the more humble typical church buildings… where people go to church not to see an impressive building, but to meet with their brothers and sisters…

1 Nephi 11: 36 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great.

When I see a large spacious building, I think – there is someone who is trying to compensate for something… hide something…fake superficial prideful self-centered… Yes – it is good to be clean, and presentable – but there is a big difference between some gaudy show - wanton wastefulness, and respect for God. In buildings, in the way people dress on Sunday… are they trying to impress/show respect for God or is their purpose to parade themselves before everyone. There is a fine line between the two…
The LDS temple that I drove past recently in La Jolla, Califonia, was spacious and impressive. :)
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/sandiego/


I loved visiting the San Diego Mission. Established in 1769, it was the first of the 21 missions that the Catholic Church established in California.

http://th163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/jhhrn68/th_01aSanDiego.jpg

[dragoniatiegre]

I think any Church building is beautiful. I don't view them as "great and spacious" buildings, because each was built (primarily) to glory God. Some were built to impress, and show how much wealth and power were had, yes. But the vast majority were built as examples of heaven on earth.

I love looking at examples of the Salt Lake Temple. The beauty that the early Saints put into its construction was amazing. They weren't building this to say, "look how powerful we are", but instead to put their best into a building dedicated to the Lord. This same principle applies to early cathedrals, and even the simplest of churches.

Old stone churches are my favorite.

[dragoniatiegre]

http://www.uelac.org/Bus-Trips/images/StoneArabiaChurch.jpg

This is Stone Arabia Church, a revolutionary war era church a couple of miles from where I grew up.

It's quite simple, but elegant in that simplicity.

ETA: forgot to credit my source: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.uelac.org/Bus-Trips/images/StoneArabiaChurch.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.uelac.org/Bus-Trips/2006-Bus-Trip.php&h=473&w=500&sz=47&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=TO_sZzs4EGCK0M:&tbnh=123&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstone%2Barabia%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN

[Blackmarch]

https://secure.lds.org/images/localunits/39573_chapel_st.jpg
I prefer the more humble typical church buildings… where people go to church not to see an impressive building, but to meet with their brothers and sisters…

1 Nephi 11: 36 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great.

When I see a large spacious building, I think – there is someone who is trying to compensate for something… hide something…fake superficial prideful self-centered… Yes – it is good to be clean, and presentable – but there is a big difference between some gaudy show - wanton wastefulness, and respect for God. In buildings, in the way people dress on Sunday… are they trying to impress/show respect for God or is their purpose to parade themselves before everyone. There is a fine line between the two…
Hey which temple is that in that bac ground?

[Blackmarch]

Wow I like all those buildings!

I really do want to go veisist some of the old cathedrals both in east US and especially over in Europe.

I wouldn't mind visiting some Mosques as well.

one of my faves;

http://donaldmark.home.comcast.net/~donaldmark/PhotoJaunt2003/Images/pjtwashington01.jpg