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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: O Oriens: reassessing eastward position
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venbede
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# 16669
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Posted
Angloid - just had a thought.
Perhaps Philadelphia Cathedral as building faces North or South? In which case the new altar faces East or West.
I doubt it though.
I think I'll give up this board for Lent and study some serious commentaries and theology.
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Man was made for joy and woe;
And when this we rightly know,
Thro' the world we safely go.
Posts: 3201 | From: An historic market town nestling in the folds of Surrey's rolling North Downs, | Registered: Sep 2011
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Angloid
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# 159
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Posted
Even if it does, it was clearly designed with its own 'internal' orientation as it were. Not a very good reason IMHO for going against that with a re-ordering. Though maybe the good Dean Giles (and I don't share the general distaste of ecclesiantophiles for him and his works) had good reasons of his own.
There was a fashion in a few places some years ago to re-order gothic or neo-gothic churches in a way which violated the structure of the building. Putney parish church did this (though it is a very 'neo' gothic church in that it has more of a classical plan), and I know of a RC church in north Liverpool that did too, though I think they have reverted.) Classical buildings - especially the 'squarer' preaching houses - are often more amenable to this sort of thing. But a basilican type church with an apse, like Philadelphia cathedral, has a very strong dynamic of its own and it is confusing and distracting to go against it.
That said, I like the absence of clutter. And the furniture is movable so no harm done.
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Brian: You're all individuals!
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Lone voice: I'm not!
Posts: 12927 | From: The Pool of Life | Registered: May 2001
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Oblatus
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# 6278
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Angloid:
That said, I like the absence of clutter. And the furniture is movable so no harm done.
When I see radical "declutterings" like that one, though, I get a sad sense that "there used to be a lot more going on here" and that all that's left is but a muted remnant.
Posts: 3823 | Registered: May 2004
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Angloid
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# 159
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Posted
There is a season to be cluttered, and a season to do away with all the clutter. ![[Smile]](smile.gif) (or perhaps more to the point, horses for courses or it's a good job we're not all alike)
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Brian: You're all individuals!
Crowd: We're all individuals!
Lone voice: I'm not!
Posts: 12927 | From: The Pool of Life | Registered: May 2001
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Comper's Child
Shipmate
# 10580
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by venbede:
Angloid - just had a thought.
Perhaps Philadelphia Cathedral as building faces North or South? In which case the new altar faces East or West.
I doubt it though.
I think I'll give up this board for Lent and study some serious commentaries and theology.
The cathedral is correctly oriented. However, the arrangement in the photograph isn't typical . Generally the (enormous) ambo is at the west end and the (rather tiny) altar is nearer the east end in front of the presbytery. The cathedral has a rather small congregation except for diocesan services.
Posts: 2509 | From: Penn's Greene Countrie Towne | Registered: Oct 2005
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Olaf
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# 11804
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Oblatus:
quote:
Originally posted by Angloid:
That said, I like the absence of clutter. And the furniture is movable so no harm done.
When I see radical "declutterings" like that one, though, I get a sad sense that "there used to be a lot more going on here" and that all that's left is but a muted remnant.
I agree.
I am not opposed to the sort of configuration which Dean Giles supports.*
That said, it works best when incorporated into the design of a new church. In Philadelphia Cathedral, particularly in the configuration linked in the above picture, it seems rather empty.
*In fact, I rather like this new-ish Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
I also like the very flexible configuration of St. Benedict the African Church, Chicago, which at times has had the altar-opposite-ambo configuration. (This was the best pic I could find.
I even like the octagonal St. John's Lutheran, Atlanta, although I don't so much like the idea of kneeling for prayer while half the congregation is looking directly at me.
Posts: 8953 | From: Ad Midwestem | Registered: Sep 2006
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