The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence, and the Eternal

by Duncan G. Stroik

How can we recover a sense of the sacred in liturgy and architecture? Why was it lost in the twentieth century? What signs of hope exist for the future? In his new book The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence, and the Eternal, Duncan Stroik answers these questions with wisdom gained from two decades of teaching, writing, and practicing architecture in service to the Church.

Writing to architects, artists, priests, and all who see the urgent need for renewal, Stroik begins this compilation of essays by reemphasizing the nature and purpose of the church building. He then considers how the Classical Tradition can inform contemporary churches, analyzes the impact Modernist philosophy has had on architecture, and concludes by looking forward to renaissance and renewal. Along the way he gives principles of design, myths of contemporary sacred architecture, advice for priests, and analysis of the architectural ramifications of the theology of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Over 170 photographs and drawings of exemplary historic and contemporary churches fill the pages of this instructive and inspiring work. When asked about Stroik’s impact on catholic church architecture, noted architectural historian and professor Denis R. McNamara commented, “The Church Building as a Sacred Place not only highlights the ideas and motivations behind today’s flowering of classical architecture, but also gives hope and inspiration for those ready to see new churches that can be handed on proudly to future generations who will thank us for giving them a place to worship which lifts up their hearts to God and teaches that it is right to give Him thanks and praise.”

Genres: History, Art

182 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2012

About the author

Duncan G. Stroik is a practicing architect, author, and Professor of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame. His award-winning work includes Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel in California, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin, and Saint Joseph Cathedral in South Dakota.

A frequent lecturer on sacred architecture and the classical tradition, Stroik has recently authored The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence and the Eternal. Mr. Stroik is an inaugural member of the Society for Catholic Liturgy and founding editor of Sacred Architecture Journal. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Yale University School of Architecture.

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's because I'm a convert from complete secularism. I just don't see what's supposed to be so great about the new-fangled churches that look like cracker boxes. Or like space ships. Or like a crumpled up piece of paper.

Let's just say it here and name the elephant in the room.

What is so great about an ugly church?

One of the things I did understand, whether secular or Catholic, was that our surroundings influence how we think and feel and act. And the point of a beautiful church is to help lift our souls to the point where that curtain between us and God might, just might, be opened for a moment of personal connection.

That was highlighted for me when I was in Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. A young man in his early 20s was standing in the middle of the main aisle with tears running down his cheeks. His companion, a young woman, turned to him in alarm, "What's wrong." He suddenly looked slightly embarrassed, "Nothing. I'm just having a moment. I mean..." and he waved a hand around, "...all this just got to me."

Precisely.

A transcendent moment of connection with the Almighty facilitated by a sacred place.

That is what this collection of essays by architect Duncan G. Stroik is all about, the importance of letting beauty flower in our sacred spaces, in our churches.

The architecture of the sacred presents Christianity in a three-dimensional form: visually, tactilely, and sonorously in time. The sacred must come to us through all the senses, to surround us with intimations of what Abraham felt in front of the burning bush, King David in front of the ark, Mary with the angel Gabriel, and the disciples at the feet of Jesus and at the foot of his cross. The stone underfoot, the wood of our seats, the smells of incense and of beeswax, the smoothness of marble, the strength of the cast iron grillwork and rails, and the paint on the canvas—all help to create a sense of the sacred and prepare us for the taste of sacred bread and wine.

Stroik discusses the history of church architecture, the importance of various design principles including the altar as center of the church, and the result of modern thinking on church architecture. This modern thinking he decries, by the way, is not only the effect of Modernism style in architectural philosophy, but also the tendency to have gift shops, ask admission fees in famous churches, and to think in terms of auditorium features ("Can you hear me now?").

The essays are accompanied with photography of many gorgeous churches, both old and new, as well as some that makes one want to weep for those condemned to worship in such stark, ugly surroundings.

However, Stroik doesn't just discuss the failures in vision. He holds out hope for future church building and renovation. I found Ten Myths of Contemporary Sacred Architecture to be particularly eye opening on this front. By presenting what conventional wisdom as myths and showing where they go wrong, Stroik shows how consideration and care can easily restore beauty as a desirable feature for church architecture.

Obviously, I already was disposed to agree with Duncan Stroik's essays. However, it was a pleasure to see what I felt fleshed out in these essays and photographs. I am not the author's intended audience but the essays were easy to understand and I actually enjoyed them. There is a bit of repetition since some of them originally went to a variety of publications, but I found that all to the good in thoroughly grasping the main points.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject at all and particularly to anyone at all involved in Catholic church design, renovation, and building.

[Chris DeCleene · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started to learn about Duncan Stroik's portfolio, I realized he was responsible for the design of many of the contemporary American churches that were already my favorites. This book, and listening to his lectures, reveals the depth of insight and experience necessary to accomplish such masterpieces. As a testament to the momentum and development of sacred architecture in our time, it is is massively encouraging.

I was hoping this would have more technically informative content - I love the experience of looking at a place together and walking through the design choices, how things were done and why they were done that way. But this is instead more of a big picture, state-of-the-industry sort of commentary. Valuable, for sure, and perhaps more difficult than the technical skill that he surely has. However, I will still be looking for that elsewhere.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Stroik edits the Sacred Architecture Journal which I find astounding. Even reading the back issues is never outdated.

The book is an organized arrangement of all topics of sacred (specifically Catholic) architecture. Fascinating book from a man who is returning the birthright to the Church.