Thank you to those who point us to useful websites. Here are a few: Bible Odyssey Bible Odyssey is a rich website to explore the Bible produced by Society of Biblical Literature Founded in 1880, the Society of Biblical Literature is the oldest and largest learned society devoted to the critical investigation of the Bible
In my series on worship environment I have been emphasising interior layout and features. But the building itself is not unimportant. Secular franchises recognise this – the external appearance of a building for many franchises is immediately recognisable (just think how a McDonald’s restaurant is immediately recognisable wherever you go!). It is not either/or –
Building As Sacrament Read More »
Celebrating the Eucharist by Patrick Malloy begins with a number of “Principles for Making Liturgical Decisions”. I will be reflecting on these in a series. His first is “The entire assembly celebrates the liturgy”. I involuntarily wince whenever I see the word “celebrant” as a term referring to the one leading a service. A New
Entire Assembly Celebrates Liturgy Read More »
More than two years ago the architects for the Christchurch Anglican diocese encouraged me to put a series online on church architecture. For some people, these posts may be difficult to find on this site. So this particular post collects many architecture ideas together in such a way that a group of people can more
Worship Environment Read More »
The above image appears to be going viral, being posted by even some of my most sensible friends. So it is worth a moment of reflection. Some people heatedly want a Western return to the priest presiding ad orientem (facing East) rather than the popular versus populum (facing the people). This type of person rejoiced
Priest back to the people Read More »
Yes. There are exceptions. Exceptional circumstances and contexts in which the norm cannot be applied. But when planning for new worship spaces, and when renewing inherited spaces it should be clear that the altar is the community’s table – not somehow exclusively the possession of the ordained and if there is a procession of the
Not coming to the table for communion Read More »
In a city that appears to be being transformed from green and gothic to grey tilt-slab, rectangles and glass, last week’s unveiling of a “living cathedral” concept (image above) for Christchurch’s Cathedral Square I hope will raise the level of architectural discussion in this one-chance-to-get-it-right city’s rebuild. I was recently in Napier, destroyed by 1931
Rippon College Cuddesdon, Oxford (UK), is a centre of excellence in theological training and research. We train men and women for ordination in the Church of England through a broad and deep range of creative and engaging courses. … We are a place of genuine community where generosity and hospitality is practised in the context
Bishop Edward King Chapel Read More »
