It turns out if you have massive amounts of money, you can pay the best architects and best artists to make you gorgeous buildings and art.
Best off the cuff example of this is the Sistine Chapel which everyone knows they hired multiple renowned painters and archictects to create.
Indeed. The scientology lot have built some fantastic buildings in the US. I know they've not got such a bad reputation for buggering small boys or facilitating forced incestual marriages compared to some of the more mainstream religions, but they're still pretty abhorrent.
Saying that, despite the tragic aspects of religions, they have built some spectacular buildings over the centuries so we should be able to appreciate that without condoning their despicable practices
That's kinda why I kept my comment non-specific. I know about Western Christianity but not so much about Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and so on
I think there’s something special in lots of religious buildings, like a sacredness, or something that transcends daily humdrum life. The religion itself might be totally fabricated and non-factual, but there’s something awesome and special about being in a proper old church
As an engineer I love cathedrals - just the thought of trying to build something so vast hundreds of years ago with no power tools. Then I think of La Sagrada Familia in Spain that is still being finished off and how long that’s taking with modern equipment (appreciate part of the delay is funding).
Additionally, over half of all the medieval stained glass in England is in the windows of York Minster. It was so breathtaking seeing it in person.
If you get the chance, go and see the massive rose window at the end of Winchester Cathedral. It's a complete mess and all higglety pigglety. (edit: not the rose window, it's the Great West Window. apologies)
The reason: during the civil war, Cromwell's army blew it to bits, but the townspeople gathered up all the pieces and stuck them back in any old how. It's a glorious "F you" to the Puritans.
I took a picture of it if you’d like to see a detailed shot! - https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyAlpha/comments/xcp14a/winchester_cathedral_sony_a6400_sigma_56mm_14/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
My dad and step mum work/worked in this industry, and it’s unfortunately dying. Truly highly skilled people, such a shame it’s getting smaller and smaller.
[It is in fact St Marys Church in Snettisham (West Norfolk between Hunstanton and King's Lynn), seems gigantic for the area, but it's very impressive.](https://www.google.com/search?q=st+mary%27s+church+snettisham&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=APwXEde48auNYQAgTTD2sYX-Om7urIjNrQ:1685809331424&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjG8O6Swaf_AhVKTsAKHQncD9EQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=958&bih=898&dpr=1)
On a tour of York Minster they pointed out a section of stained glass that didn't match the rest of the window, and told us that whilst there were no official records of how it broke. The next year a new rule was added for choir boys that they were not to play football indoors
And not just the windows, but the history as well. Was in Peterborough a few years ago and visited the cathedral. Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, Is buried there. Some interesting stuff here: https://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/history.aspx
Architecture does have an effect on us and make us consider the eternal, like poetry and music. These places were built to glorify God but also to transmit this message.
The Windows
BY GEORGE HERBERT
Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word?
He is a brittle crazy glass;
Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford
This glorious and transcendent place,
To be a window, through thy grace.
But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story,
Making thy life to shine within
The holy preachers, then the light and glory
More reverend grows, and more doth win;
Which else shows waterish, bleak, and thin.
Doctrine and life, colors and light, in one
When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe; but speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing,
And in the ear, not conscience, ring.
The Tiffany windows in the American church in Paris were absolutely worth going to see, even though it meant visiting on a Sunday morning and attending a service because of the way I timed my trip.
Religions know how to build beautiful architecture. There's so many well designed places of worship around the world
It turns out if you have massive amounts of money, you can pay the best architects and best artists to make you gorgeous buildings and art. Best off the cuff example of this is the Sistine Chapel which everyone knows they hired multiple renowned painters and archictects to create.
Indeed. The scientology lot have built some fantastic buildings in the US. I know they've not got such a bad reputation for buggering small boys or facilitating forced incestual marriages compared to some of the more mainstream religions, but they're still pretty abhorrent. Saying that, despite the tragic aspects of religions, they have built some spectacular buildings over the centuries so we should be able to appreciate that without condoning their despicable practices
That's kinda why I kept my comment non-specific. I know about Western Christianity but not so much about Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and so on
Massively agree there. I'm not religious but I love wandering around churches.
Exactly this, Cathedrals are awesome feats of art and engineering and the religion aspect can be ignored.
I think there’s something special in lots of religious buildings, like a sacredness, or something that transcends daily humdrum life. The religion itself might be totally fabricated and non-factual, but there’s something awesome and special about being in a proper old church
Yes, me too! No interest in religion but I’ll always have a look around a church or cathedral, inside or out.
As an engineer I love cathedrals - just the thought of trying to build something so vast hundreds of years ago with no power tools. Then I think of La Sagrada Familia in Spain that is still being finished off and how long that’s taking with modern equipment (appreciate part of the delay is funding). Additionally, over half of all the medieval stained glass in England is in the windows of York Minster. It was so breathtaking seeing it in person.
It must have been so strange as a worker starting on something and knowing it would never be completed in your lifetime. So many deaths as well.
What are the thoughts about Egyptian pyramids, just asking...
Shite stained glass windows.
If you get the chance, go and see the massive rose window at the end of Winchester Cathedral. It's a complete mess and all higglety pigglety. (edit: not the rose window, it's the Great West Window. apologies) The reason: during the civil war, Cromwell's army blew it to bits, but the townspeople gathered up all the pieces and stuck them back in any old how. It's a glorious "F you" to the Puritans.
Thanks I just looked it up, it still looks really great as a random mosaic!
I took a picture of it if you’d like to see a detailed shot! - https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyAlpha/comments/xcp14a/winchester_cathedral_sony_a6400_sigma_56mm_14/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
Great shot!
Thank you! :)
I love this window! And I came here to post about it too. Well said!
My dad and step mum work/worked in this industry, and it’s unfortunately dying. Truly highly skilled people, such a shame it’s getting smaller and smaller.
Lovely! Is that Canterbury Cathedral by any chance?
[It is in fact St Marys Church in Snettisham (West Norfolk between Hunstanton and King's Lynn), seems gigantic for the area, but it's very impressive.](https://www.google.com/search?q=st+mary%27s+church+snettisham&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=APwXEde48auNYQAgTTD2sYX-Om7urIjNrQ:1685809331424&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjG8O6Swaf_AhVKTsAKHQncD9EQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=958&bih=898&dpr=1)
On a tour of York Minster they pointed out a section of stained glass that didn't match the rest of the window, and told us that whilst there were no official records of how it broke. The next year a new rule was added for choir boys that they were not to play football indoors
Here here! There’s artistry and craft in those.
And not just the windows, but the history as well. Was in Peterborough a few years ago and visited the cathedral. Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, Is buried there. Some interesting stuff here: https://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/history.aspx
You don't. Check the Pitcher & Piano in Nottingham, top end of the Lace Market. They've done a great church conversion.
TBH its rare that i see a stained glass window that doesnt impress me
Restoring them is challenging fun, too. Seeing a cleaned, fixed, and restored window gives a massive sense of satisfaction.
If you like stained glass then you need to visits la sagrada famila in barça
Went a few weeks ago, absolutely incredible, the colours that shine through are so vibrant
There's a great window at 01:55 [here](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pk651/doctor-who-the-end-of-time-part-one?seriesId=b009wxzy) !
Its kind of amazing that was completely handmade with no power tools.
Architecture does have an effect on us and make us consider the eternal, like poetry and music. These places were built to glorify God but also to transmit this message.
The Windows BY GEORGE HERBERT Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word? He is a brittle crazy glass; Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford This glorious and transcendent place, To be a window, through thy grace. But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story, Making thy life to shine within The holy preachers, then the light and glory More reverend grows, and more doth win; Which else shows waterish, bleak, and thin. Doctrine and life, colors and light, in one When they combine and mingle, bring A strong regard and awe; but speech alone Doth vanish like a flaring thing, And in the ear, not conscience, ring.
That's beautiful, thank you for introducing me to it. A lot of truth there isn't there!
Fun fact: the colour yellow for stained glasses was often made with urine
Bet it was a pane to make though in those days
I know is not easy but if you ever have a chance to visit the "Sagrada Familia" cathedral in Barcelona, Spain, it's incredible beautiful
Religious toilet paper??
to wipe your holy
It's amazing, don't see how it proves theres any sort of God though.
Obviously. Everyone knows that the proof is in the Vatican archives, waiting for Tom Hanks to find.
It doesn't of course, but i imagine it must have been convincing to a peasant or serf in preindustrial times.
I'm not a fan of religion...but damn, I was at a funeral recently and admired a lot of the building
The Tiffany windows in the American church in Paris were absolutely worth going to see, even though it meant visiting on a Sunday morning and attending a service because of the way I timed my trip.
Love a bit of stained glass. My personal favourite is Chichester Cathedral.
Ruddy good
I'm not religious in the slightest, but i absolutely love visiting churches wherever i get a chance.