Thursday, June 18, 2020 –
Right. Okay. I suppose I am out of excuses. The garden is done (for now). Mr. Flusche is using his new laptop. Three tons of rocks are delivered for my next project, but I cannot do anything with them without Mr. Flusche’s help. So…on to the next super basic primer??
Recently a few friends and I had a brief discussion on Church architecture. Actually, a couple of discussions erupted over the last few weeks; many centered around the crazy labeling system my own Church has instituted in order to direct parishioners where to sit for Mass and maintain social distancing.
A few different systems have been tried, and sadly nobody understood what the words “transept” or “epistle” meant, or even “Joseph and Mary sides.” So…we now have an odd amalgamation of “left” vs. “right” coupled with a super confusing numbering system that somehow begins with 9 in the nave (also a word that was lost on many people).
Anyhoo, I figure it is high time to do a super basic primer on Church architecture. Of course, I know a Priest who happens to have a masters in Gothic architecture. My only hope is that he never reads this because I am quite certain he would pass out from any architectural faux pas I am sure to make.
Father, if you are reading this, STOP. Please and thank you! =)
To be clear, I am by no means an expert on anything, especially not architecture. However, I do find it very useful and important to be able to label and understand the most basic of terms. It is especially important that Catholics have a base understanding of their buildings. There is so much going on inside a Church, and everything has a history and meaning!
For the ease of discussion, I am going to focus on the “gold standard” of Catholic architecture and layout: the Cruciform Church.
This is in part because my own Church is cruciform, but also it is probably the most recognizable “Catholic” structure style we have. Seriously! When you think of “Church,” what pops into your mind? Chartres, Notre Dame, Westminster Abbey (yeah, that was ours first!), etc. Even St. Peter’s Basilica, while technically Renaissance style, is a bit cruciform in design, even if the transepts are a tad “squishy.”
I know there are many…gag…“Churches in the round” these days. I will try to indicate what is what wherever I can, but there is a lot that gets lost in translation when going from the cruciform gold standard to the new wishy-washy round nuttiness. But, even Churches in the round have a nave and Sanctuary.
I am still figuring out how best to group each section, but expect us to go full-throttle into the world of Church architecture on Saturday! Uh…sorry…tomorrow is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and I already had something planned.
Saint Helena, pray for us!
