The Architecture of Holiness - Part One

Background:

In the past few months we have had to deal with several issues realting to our buildings and churchyards. Some of them have been real problems and pains. Here's a few of them:

• Vandalism, litter, broken windows
• debate should the churches be open or not
• Installing a stained glass window
• proposals to reorder St Peter's

Each of these issues have created shockwaves. I thought it was timely to explore our buildings in the context of our worship together in other words to preach a series on "The Architecture of Holiness" about our buildings and the building of holiness.

We are privileged with a public space in our communities for the building of holiness and it's a question of how we can capitalise on these spaces.

Buildings Speak Volumes

A quote from malcolm Miller:

This building is like a book.

It's architecture is the binding, its text is in the galss and sculpture.

and from Philip Johnson:

All architecture is shelter, all great architecure is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts or stimulates the persons in that space.

Questions:

How do we build holiness in our lives?

It's by giving time and space. Plans for our lives reflect our values and beliefs. We make time for them and wwe give them space, sometimes setting them in stone. For example we believe in peace. We make time for that, and we might also have special spaces we go to to find peace - like a walk, a park bench or a building.

What were the values and beliefs set in concrete when our respective church buildings were built?

Tarvin Church is very old but its design seems to speak of permanence and the eternal love of God, and also the power of the Church - a big building!

On the other hand, a visit to Liverpool's modern Metropolitan Cathedral show that values and beliefs have changed.The guiding principle there is fellowship of th whole people of God reflected in its circular design.

All our buildinigs reflect values and beliefs. So pubs are designed to welcoming, banks are designed to encourage trust and access, and all our public buildings are governed by disability legislation as at last we take inclusion seriously as a nation.

When owners of buildings don't like the message their building is sending out, they make changes. They change the front, the paint, the window, the lighting etc etc.

What do these buildings say?