Sunday Morning Thoughts – August 11, 2024
Churches and such ...
In 2024 we no longer need 52 churches in one city. Not sure we ever did. But what are we going to do about them? I mean they are historical landmarks. They teach us about architecture, they played important roles in history. Be it as a place to congregate, to seek refuge, to celebrate or to mourn. While we still use them to celebrate or to mourn, we now congregate online and seeking refuge has become an increasingly difficult topic.
Of course in some places going to church is still a family ritual that happens every Sunday morning. I’m just saying that it’s no longer the norm.
But what about all these big empty spaces? The upkeep is astronomical. So, I’d like to tell you about two churches I visited this week. The first one was in Maastricht and it had been turned into a bookshop. Yes, you read that right – an actual bookshop. I was totally in heaven. I love church architecture and you all know how much I love books.
Then there are churches like this on in Roermond. I loved it. You could clearly see where the architecture changed from Romanesque to Early Gothic to Gothic. Why does this happen? Well, just think of how long it took to build it. 100 years was usually not enough and while they might have tried to keep the style going for as long as they could, they didn’t want to seem old-fashioned and adapted with time.
I didn’t take to many pictures inside so you’ll just have to take my word for it that you could walk around and just know where they started – all Romanesque. Then the pointed - but still wide - arches started moving in – Early Gothic. And the last windows or doors that were put in were all Gothic. Fascinating stuff. Seriously, look at church architecture. It’s amazing.
But I digress.
The second church I wanted to talk to you about was the one that is home to the Hieronymous Bosch Art Center in Den Bosch. I absolutely love seeing an art museum inside a church. And in his case it is more than fitting. Again you can see the Early Gothic period taking over by the time they got to the top of what clearly should have been Romanesque arches. They just made them pointed – ever so slightly.
As well as Bosch’s art there was also an astronomical clock. The short talk that was given to explain the clock to us was informative and also pretty funny. Can you see the dragon? That was used to explain the solar eclipse. It was the dragon’s head that was blocking the sun. There are many other details too. See what you can find.
To me it was another reminder that people have always sought answers. Sometimes they had them. Sometimes they made them up as best they could. But then, when new scientific facts were discovered – like that the Earth is not the center of the universe, we moved forward.
I wish there was a bit more of that going on in the world today. Too much is moving backward. I can’t help but wonder if we would take better care of our planet if we still thought it was the center of the universe.
Here’s to using church buildings for something useful. An art museum – yes please. A bookshop – even more so. And how about turning them into apartments? I’ve seen those around too. A story for another time.
Have a lovely Sunday everyone. Hugs all around.
Dear Evelyne, what Brilliant pictures, Incredible Architecture and so much that went into the building of these as Amazing Buildings! Yes indeed it was a Personal drive and need at the time these everlasting structures were conceived and built many of them especially upon completion were likely heavily used for the every Sunday morning worship of whatever brand of Religion each structure and Gods they were built for and adhered to by their Communities, Families and likely some of their members who took part in the building of these structures!! I would not know about that tradition except I knew of some Families that did and some who still do adhere to that doctrine over my Lifetime. The years have been shown in your article this morning the most Wonderful transformation of some of these structures being used and for the precise purposes that you have found in your Historical piece here today and likely many more! What a great place of Learning of the Structures, their background history of what the Religion were drawn into the building of each structure and how it was equated for each religion! I loved the pictures that you shared and your thought process of especially the Huge clock in showing how it did seem to present the earth in thought was the center of the universe and our world when in fact our home is just a tiny speck within this galaxy and my personal wonder of how many other specks in other galaxies think they are also the one and only place that wonders if there is another place with beings as Special as we think of ours! I couldn’t really tell much more of the clock figure to take any more than I have mentioned but thanks so much for all your thought and sharing of your piece this morning and I am certain you will get many more responses that can and will have differing and welcomed thoughts than my own! Thanks so much for sharing this mornings story line! Always, Neal :)) 💒🔔🌏🌈
How very many uses there are for churches no longer used with the frequency of former years. Art galleries, book stores, homeless shelters in some places. I especially take note of the 24 hour clock. ⏰ I’ve never seen one before! Have a lovely Sunday! 😘