In Defence of Cathedrals

[You'll notice I used the proper spelling of defence ... not the dastardly Americanized spelling.]

Back in the old days -- before believing -- I used to think the money spent to construct beautiful and stately cathedrals was a sure sign of hypocrisy. Though I very much appreciated the beauty, grandeur and architecture of the cathedrals, I would manufacture in my mind a sense of moral indignation at all that money having been spent on a building when so many other problems exist in this world.

This past Sunday something happened that made me think of all this. Lisa and I attended the Sunday service at our church, which started at 10:15am. At 10:25am people will still filtering into the sanctuary, were still milling about, some where talking -- all while the pastor was in the process of trying to bring the congregation to worship the Lord.

I got to thinking ... where's the reverence? If we truly believe that the very Spirit of our Lord comes to dwell with us during our times of worship, would we not approach the very act and the location of that worship with a heightened awareness of the presence of the Holy?

This is the tie-in with the cathedrals ... it's difficult for me (and I suspect others) to walk into a tall, stately and beautiful cathedral and not have a subdued sense of reverence. I see it whenever I visit cathedrals, including the beautiful Winchester Cathedral. People are quiet, hushed ... respectful.

Don't get me wrong -- I am definitely not saying that such a building is a prerequisite to proper worship. During the 40 years in the desert, God chose to dwell in a tent. It's clear from Scripture that God does not need a fancy building to be present. But is there something about the human spirit that is assisted towards reverence by such structures? I think maybe yes.

The sanctuary of our church in Tucson is quite lovely. It's no cathedral, but it's quite beautiful. Yet the general atmosphere I sensed was anything but quiet, reserved and respectful. It was -- as you've pointed out -- more social, as if people were coming together for a town meeting or something. I don't wish to be judgmental ... but could it be that one of the things lost in today's world is a sense of reverence for the presence of God?