Hoping for Beauty

Sometimes, as Anglicans in America, Britain or Europe we are very much centered on our Churches here. Thinking about this reminded me of how very sad I was when the beautiful Victorian cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand, had been horribly mutilated by several earthquakes in 2011. The fine Sir George Gilbert Scott building was perhaps among the most valuable and significant in the whole country.

As an Italian, I understand the importance of two things very well: history and earthquakes. The former bishop of Christchurch wanted to demolish the remnants of the old building and build a new, modern cathedral. I won't hide the fact that given New Zealand's brief history I thought that doing away with that little they had wasn't the best idea. There is very little point in rebuilding in a contemporary fashion in the historic centers of Europe but I believe that this way of thinking can be applied to lots of newer countries too... 

I believe that the reconstruction of the once fine chapel at Virginia Theological College is an example that shouldn't be replicated. The previous space, Immanuel Chapel dating back to 1881, was in an easily recognizable Anglican Neo-Gothic style, but after a fire in 2010, it was rebuilt in a rather underwhelming manner (which in my opinion makes little liturgical sense). 

This is even more sad considering the college had more than enough funds to fully rebuild the chapel. Can America afford such departure from history given it has a very short one? I do not think so. How does the picture below reflect the Anglican heritage of the American Episcopal Church? Reforming the social views of a Church is one thing, I do not believe that church architecture, music or liturgy have anything to do with that or either it would be very diminishing.

Then of course there are good ways of doing modern in a historic context well. I can think of the Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey or the George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor which I believe truly respected the beauty and historical significance of their context and really merge perfectly with the Perpendicular Gothic of the two Royal Peculiars.

I cannot in all honesty say the same about the new chapel at Ripon Cuddesdon College. The Bishop Edward King Chapel, dedicated in 2013 has little to do with the churchmanship or historicity of this theological institution and frankly, it doesn't make much sense liturgically. I cannot number many churches with a similar layout - how can future priests relate when the majority of Anglican churches retain a very traditional liturgical space surrounding the sanctuary.

I believe we can all concur that most people worship with us Anglicans because we render the beauty of holiness rather well, thanks to our musical and liturgical tradition, in beautiful and historic buildings, throughout the world. 

In any case, today I felt the need to do some research and I am glad to find out that the cathedral is being rebuilt as it was, and so will be the churches and cathedrals destroyed by earthquakes in central Italy and by fire in Paris. 

As an art historian, I am sometimes glad when clergy are forbidden from taking drastic decisions regarding the fabric of a church building by more responsible people. An example of this not happening when necessary is the following. Trinity Wall Street is of great historic significance as the first church in the city of New York and yet its sanctuary has been modified more often than any of us can probably remember. In the picture below is the latest renovation - what point does that eucharistic iconography over the former altarpiece have now that pews, rails, and altars have been moved around? Shouldn't historic fabrics be maintained as they are? How would the donors that funded all this would feel like after the alterations? I believe continuity is one of the main reasons why lots of people go to church.

Trinity Wall Street does a lot of good with the immense wealth upon which it sits; I am not sure this constant pestering with the church structure is such a good idea however. There are certainly other ways to accommodate multiple liturgical styles with temporary furniture that wouldn't alter the historic fabric of a church building. A church can do mission without altering its structure - or at least in a less invasive way. Hopefully, this is more of a generational transition that indeed seems to be ceasing as the younger generations are ordained. There is a real hunger for beauty at this moment. 

I am really hoping to worshipping in the restored Christchurch Cathedral one day. Beauty fills the soul as much as grain does. Without art and respect for our history, we would be like other animals. This is only my humble opinion. In a world in which Churches or governments change or update their beautiful arms with modern logos, I am happy when one King Charles III chooses a traditional cypher for his reign. It means that the world is still hungry for beauty. 

Well done, New Zealand. I am glad that good sense, and love for one nation's heritage has triumphed over economic interests. It seems like the future is going to be run by people hungry for beauty and transcendental aesthetics which we all crave for when seeking encounter with God.