Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Contemplating life, while sitting in a pew
Don’t forget the reason for the season, according to that old saying which is never said often enough.
Don’t forget the reason for the season, according to that old saying which is never said often enough.
As I write this during Christmas Week, I’m reminded of many notable churches I’ve visited. You don’t need to enter a church this week to properly get into the holiday spirit.
What follows is brief description of several churches where I’ve contemplated life, while quietly sitting in a pew.
· Marlborough Meeting House: Although Quaker meetings are happening all around us in Chester County, I’d never visited until recently.
We sat in silence for the first 35 minutes of an hour long service. From my seat I had a good view of the changing autumn leaves and plenty of time to contemplate the changing season. I also closely examined nearly hundred year old graffiti with someone’s dated initials scraped into a seat in front of me.
On this windy day, the shutters repeatedly banged against the building. Was somebody or something trying to get inside, or were they already there?
With no minister, members of the congregation took turns speaking. This service was a very calming and enriching experience. I’ll be back.
· Basilica Sts. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia: Very popular for weddings. Brides battle long in advance for one of three available wedding times on most Saturdays and another on Friday nights.
Two popes have visited the Catholic mother church in the city, most recently Pope Francis. All two thousand seats were filled for the occasions and I often wonder how those brides feel in a nearly empty church.
Construction workers were asked to throw rocks as high as they could and then windows were built just a bit further up the wall to protect the church from threats by the “Knownothings.”
· The Roman Catholic Churches: My sister and I attended a Mass with the Pope at the Vatican. I was amazed by the jubilant spirit of groups of pilgrims dressed in matching shirts. They chanted rhymes and cheered the Pope. The Mass was held in either Italian or Latin. I didn’t understand a word.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is as wondrous and grand as advertised. It’s worth your earning a stiff neck.
While wandering around Rome, we’d often spot huge Catholic churches. From the outside, these churches often looked like warehouses. My sister was almost “churched-out” by the end of the trip. She’d sit out front.
“Go in and see if it’s worth it for me to climb the steps,” she’d say.
I’d take a quick look and always return a couple minutes later.
“It’s beautiful,” I’d say. “You’ve got to see this.”
She was never disappointed.
· Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs: On the day we visited, bright sunlight streamed through the stained glass, fully lighting this sanctuary a glorious sky blue.
· Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Fla.: This college campus built in part by architect Frank Lloyd Wright hosts two churches. The angles used are magical and Wright’s use of trademark colored glass in many of his buildings is especially nice for these sanctuaries located in the Sunshine State.
· Holy Trinity Church, West Chester, Pa.: The church of my childhood. I adore the green serpentine walls. Like as with many churches, the boy’s choir was hidden from the congregation except when ceremoniously entering and leaving the altar area.
· Christ Episcopal Church, Philadelphia: I often told duck boat passengers that Ben, Betsy and George worshipped here. This was the tallest building an America until 1810. Unlike Holy Trinity, the choir sits with the congregation and there are no stained glass windows.
· Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City: Non Mormons are not allowed in the temple but the 350-member Mormon Tabernacle Choir regularly sings for the public in this concert hall or auditorium. Founder Bringham Young envisioned the structure--a hollowed out eggshell with lengthwise cracks.
The acoustics are so perfect that on a tour you can hear the difference between a dropped pin or a small nail on a wooden table hundreds of feet away.
· Mormon Temple, Philadelphia: For the just the first month after it opened, this building in the Ben Franklin Parkway section was open to the public. The baptismal font appears both refreshing and beautiful.
The celestial room hosts a huge chandelier which magically catches light. Weddings are held face-toface and mirrors on opposing walls give the appearance of a never ending, or eternal, series of reflections of the wedding couple.
· Italian church in New Columbus, Pa.: Thousands of pilgrims annually visit this small coal town. I was very lucky to catch a rose dropped from a helicopter during a celebration here for the Shower of the Roses honoring St. Therese of Lisieux.
· San Miguel Mission, Sante Fe: Folks in Jamestown and St. Augustine probably disagree, but this might just be the oldest standing church in America. Founded C. 1610, this adobe and wood structure houses a 1356 bell. I rang it twice. As the associated legend states, those ringing the bell will one day return to Sante Fe.
· California Missions: You can feel the spirit in many of these glorious and still working old Spanish missions.
· St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York: Like almost everything in New York, this church is bigger than life.
· St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Newport, R.I.: The archbishop was funnier than most stand-up comedians. He had the congregation in stiches. That might have been because it was a Saturday night service on St. Paddy’s Day and most of those in attendance were planning to celebrate.
Tis the season! Enjoy church services if you go and have a very Merry Christmas.