Ship of Fools: Holy Places

Thread: Holy Places Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

Having read a recent book on Britain's holiest places I was quite surprised to discover just how many there were. As a lover of place I'm drawn to such 'shrines' and Ireland has a plethora of them; more possibly than you could ever visit in a lifetime. Of all of the one's I've seen, St Moninna's monastic site and well stands out more than any other. I'm not quite sure why, but it was a beautiful site with an old church, her grave and a little path through the grass and gorse that led up to her well on the slopes of Slieve Gullion where little sheep safely grazed and lambs kicked in delight as the clouds dispersing a fine mist constantly changed the light. Here is a pic of her well.

So, it's over to you; what shrines, waysides, holy spots are your favourite haunts?

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

Two: the Cathedral At St David's in Wales, which is never crowded and IME always has a peace, tranquility and nebulous 'something'.

And also on the St David's peninsula, out towards St Justinian is St Non's Well & Chapel. It has amazing views out to sea and on a bright summer day is a good place to just sit, stare and think.

Posted by venbede (# 16669) on :

Our Lady of Willesden, just to show holy places can be in the middle of inner city deprivation and not just unspoiled countryside. (Haven't been there for years but it was a very healing place for me at one time.)

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by venbede:
Our Lady of Willesden, just to show holy places can be in the middle of inner city deprivation and not just unspoiled countryside.

On a similar note, Blackfriars Priory, Oxford. It's right on one of the busiest main roads in the city, but the roar of traffic and the noise of passersby seem to fade pretty quickly once you're in there. There are other central churches nearby but none of them seem to have this atmosphere of "dynamic stillness", if you know what I mean. I've found just going and sitting quietly there can be very helpful and productive sometimes.

Posted by Bene Gesserit (# 14718) on :

The (Anglican) shrine at Walsingham, although I have only yet been there once.

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

I doubt there can be more evocative places in England than lastingham.

The fact I visited it with my mother on our last holiday together, and that there were words of T.S. Eliot to be read, only increases the impression it made..

(Edited to fix link)

[ 21. November 2013, 19:45: Message edited by: Firenze ]

Posted by venbede (# 16669) on :

I was at Lastingham last year and deeply impressed. The crypt had a few more bits of tat around than the photo shows, (not 'Igh Church tat so much as a faded print of an icon, as I remember and the like) but being a bit tatty can be rather moving.

The upstairs has been restored to be impressive but any atmosphere was spoilt by the two church sitters gossiping loudly to each other and taking no notice of me whatsoever. (Personally I'd prefer that to them being gushily all over me, but just a smile and a nod in my direction would have been nice. It's a pity they were failing in manners.)

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :

Partrishow, near Abergavenny. It's up tiny single track roads, but when you get there there's a sacred spring and a lovely little church with wall paintings. People leave bunches of flowers at the spring.

Posted by Cara (# 16966) on :

Elkstone Church, Gloucestershire.

A tiny church, Norman arches, golden Cotswold stone, a window into the chancel that casts a special light....there is an impressive stillness, a "feeling" here.

As different as could possibly be, while still being Norman: Durham Cathedral.

Posted by Clotilde (# 17600) on :

Its a fascinating subject for me, and thanks for raising it.

I wonder just what makes the place sacred or holy, and why do some places cease to be holy? - or at least only remain as pale reflections of what they were.

I'd love to visit Lastingham given the recommendations.

Durham Cathedral is special for me, but actually only at certain times.

I agree about Walsingham, but then again for me the Anglican shrine works best when it is very quiet. I went once in February when very few were around and it was in the evening and misty and it was beautiful. Then I went to a big do full of slightly pompous male priests (or so it felt) and it wasnt the place for me then.

Yes, a fascinating subject!

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :

I love small shrines, or those large which blend with the environment. Whilst I appreciate cathedral and temple architecture, those are more places of people. The small are places of being.

Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:
Originally posted by venbede:
Our Lady of Willesden, just to show holy places can be in the middle of inner city deprivation and not just unspoiled countryside.
On a similar note, Blackfriars Priory, Oxford. It's right on one of the busiest main roads in the city, but the roar of traffic and the noise of passersby seem to fade pretty quickly once you're in there. There are other central churches nearby but none of them seem to have this atmosphere of "dynamic stillness", if you know what I mean. I've found just going and sitting quietly there can be very helpful and productive sometimes.

Ditto this—especially during Compline. The effect spills over into the library, even; when I was studying at Blackfriars, I'd often take the desk near the door to the chapel tribune to hear the friars chanting the office.

More locally, I have a couple favorite chapels in the National Basilica (the narrow, quiet, and colorful Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Dominic's upstairs, the Founder's Chapel in the crypt) and the law school—though claiming to like the modern simplicity of that last one has raised a few eyebrows. I've also a bit of a fondness for crypt churches, low, quiet, dim and intimate underground spaces that seem to isolate the world and to encourage contemplation, places that feel governed by a geometry different than the light and open one of the world.

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :

quote:
L'organist: the Cathedral At St David's in Wales, which is never crowded and IME always has a peace, tranquility and nebulous 'something'.

Seconded, very nice.

Here in Brazil, I quite like Oscar Niemeyer's Cathedral of Brasília. The underground entrance, and then you suddenly see those abstract stained-glass windows, and the clouds through them... Very good for contemplation.

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :

Other than churches various and Lindisfarne, somewhere that's not known as a shrine, but known to walkers is the Dorsetshire Gap which has the most amazing atmosphere.

Posted by MrsBeaky (# 17663) on :

The parish church, St Nicholas, Studland

It's very beautiful but it carries something else too.
The whole fabric of the place resonated with the worship and prayers of Christians down through the centuries.
I felt that wonderful Presence as never before.

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