Interesting Architecture

From Village of Joy comes a top twenty list of Unusual Church Buildings. Here's my favorite:

church/mountain

Of course, this begs that question: what role does the building play in worship? Personally, as long as the space isn't distractingly ugly, I couldn't care less what the building looks like; after all, I do go to a church that meets in an old mall. However, I would argue that there's something to the way in which architecture can drive worship.

Thoughts?

Do you have a favorite church building?

[the Church/Mountain picture is from flickr user Tourning Boy

HT: The Daily Scroll]

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Comments (11)

I may have posted a comment with this quote already on TC in the past, but it's worth repeating IMHO. From Christian architect Daniel Lee:

“It is possible to worship God in a gymnasium or lecture hall, because if people are truly seeking him, God will meet them there. But to worship in such architecture is to suggest that our purpose is either recreational or cerebral. We should build spaces crafted specially for a human-divine encounter with God.”

Amen.
Amen indeed. I love that quotation.
I travel alot and make it an issue to go to church where ever I'm at. There is a real nice old chapel at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ that is right next to a big pond. The chapel (Memorial Chaple) at Fort Campbell is newer and nice. There was also a nice chapel in Orange Park, FL and someone with the same last name as mine. But the chaple in Iraq at LSA Anaconda called Provider Chaple was the most interesting. It actually had two roofs, one for the building and one over that to protect from mortar rounds coming in. In all my travels it has always been the people and the pastors who have made the church what it is and I have had some very wonderful experiences in those places where God comes to visit. In God's Grace John
I think architecture and the people/pastor make a huge impact on the worship. Just ask Starbucks or you big chain grocery store and see how much space and how it is filled impact consumers (they actually have people who specialize in the psychology of space). Just worship in a cathedral and then in a store front church (both are good places to worship) and see, feel, touch, taste, smell the difference. I believe it is the thought we put into a structure for worship that is the most important and will convey our values in worship, so, take your time and think through a church building process! :)
I liked the quote by pNielsen!
I think the space for worship should ideally reflect the community that worships there. People are colloquial creatures. Christians should create lasting and beautiful things.
The worship setting does not necessarilly matter when it comes to worship - but i do think that the space that we worship in can enhanse the worship experience. I had a professor in seminary who studied church architecture and he lectured on the subject form time to time. I remember him talking about churches that had a set of descending stairs and then a set of ascending stairs before you entered the sanctuary - thus symbolizing our dying and rising with Christ as we entered into worship. That always stuck with me as an impressive reminder as we enter into worship. I am not an artistic person, but I do love art being used to enhanse the worship experience. Architecture is an art form that can indeed do just that.
Funny I should read this right now, as I was just thinking a few minutes ago that my favorite place to worship God and where I feel closest to him is when I am out in nature. Just breathing in the smells and taking in the sights, all of which are so miraculous to me...well, it just makes me really understand the utter significance, or petty insignificance, of my own life.
Chris, do you attend Mars? Hope to cross paths with you sometime in W. Michigan.

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