Every building, they say, makes a statement. If that is so, we all have to ask what our parish church is saying.
Hopefully it proclaims, ‘This belongs to devout worshippers.’ The maintenance and up-to-date state of the exterior and interior make it clear that people care – at least as much as they care about their own homes.
So much for first impressions. If the building comes from the hand of Wren or Gibbs it my quietly point out: ‘This is a place where attentive hearers assemble.’ The box-shape and galleries indicate the designer’s intention was to ensure that hundreds could see and hear what was going on in a dignified and spacious setting.
The building may generate awe. Good design may be enough to account for this. It may be saying, ‘The people who designed and built me had a respect for form, harmony and beauty.’ If a building has visitors dumb-founded, much has been achieved. Silence may be the only appropriate response. When respect for form, for the best use of space, for harmony of building and furnishing materials, is seen to be part of a tribute to God, we are well on the way.
The pointed arch, the Romanesque arch and the lofty vaults favoured particularly by the French may be seen as one way to achieve such an effect. Equally the 18th century desire for balance may stimulate a sense of what is right, of space utilised, of tranquillity and something like perfection attained.
And then there are elements such as lighting, carpeting, and soft furnishings. These things are likely to become degraded over the years. Items are retained because they have always been present. Other items may raise awkward problems. Audio and sound equipment are prime offenders in today’s churches. An organ case that is an elegant piece of joinery is an agreeable item of furniture; guitars, drum-kits and electronic bits and pieces cannot claim to add any lustre to an interior. If consecrated clutter has made its way to a skip and left acres of untouched space, much has been gained.
Accompanied by a centre, the worship-building may be saying: ‘I serve as a hub – for community events as well as for church activities other than worship.’ Such an addition to the property used to be called a parish hall. Things have moved on since those days.
BFM HARBORNE
‘Building for Mission’ is keeping St John’s church, Harborne, Birmingham busy. The church is proving too small and a £4.7m project is under way to extend and transform the church building. Eighty-five per cent of the target has been raised and a tithe is set aside for mission beyond the parish. The Vicar is Leonard Browne.
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