Does it matter what a church building looks like? Christian church buildings have come in many shapes and sizes over the centuries and all have housed faithful Christians worshiping the one true God. On the other hand, these buildings have expressed and formed the faith of congregations in different ways in different times and places.
Does it matter how a church interior is arranged? Ordering space for worship has been varied and creative. Differing theological perspectives have produced quite diverse solutions. Anglicanism has both benefitted and suffered from movements designed to address challenges faced in the interior arrangements of church buildings.
The Revd Dr Brett Cane will give us a whirlwind tour of church building history, showing how different styles emphasise different aspects of the Christian faith. He will show how the interior arrangements of Anglican churches have evolved over the centuries, revealing that “how we have always done it” isn’t exactly the case. The morning will conclude with discussion of how space can be arranged appropriately and expressively for Christian worship.
Brett is a graduate architect with degrees in architecture from McGill University, Montreal, as well as an Anglican cleric who studied at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and Fuller Seminary, Pasadena. Though retired, he keeps an active rôle in ministry and enjoys extensive touring and experiencing architecture around the world.
Suggested pre-reading: Revelation chapter 21; "Apocalypse and the Beauty of God" in Tom Wright, “Surprised by Scripture”.