View allAll Photos Tagged ChurchArchitecture
The Church of Saint Sava is a Serbian Orthodox church located on the Vračar plateau in Belgrade. It is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world and ranks among the largest church buildings in the world.
This is for one of my Flickr friends, Andrew, who I believe sang here in the choir as a boy.
The beautiful Grade I-listed Church of St Peter & St Paul dominates the town centre of Kettering and dates mainly from the 15th century though the north doorway and the east end of the chancel date from around 1300. The exceptionally fine west steeple is a landmark for many miles around, and I can see this from my window about three miles away as I am writing this.
An historic, old church in our city...
This lovely stained glass arch adorns the top of the main entrance.
I walked by this church countless times over the years before noticing this archway. I'm glad it caught my eye and that it is now part of my portfolio.
St Mary’s Church, Pakenham, Suffolk - aerial photo
Seen here from the air, St Mary’s Church stands prominently on its rise above the surrounding farmland north of the A14. It’s one of Suffolk’s few cruciform churches, its layout marked by a central tower and projecting transepts — an architectural plan much more often seen in neighbouring Cambridgeshire than in this county.
The story of the building reaches back to around 1100 AD, when a man known simply as Walter founded the original church of nave, tower and chancel. The chancel was extended in the 13th century, and the graceful octagonal belfry — an unusual feature in Suffolk — was added in the 14th. Later still, large Perpendicular windows were opened at the east and west ends during the 15th century, bringing in more light to what had become a substantial medieval church.
By the mid-19th century the structure was in need of attention, and architect Samuel Sanders Teulon undertook a major rebuilding in 1849, recreating the north transept and renewing much of the nave roof. His distinctive Victorian hand can still be seen in the north porch and fittings. A further programme of repair and reordering took place between 1980 and 2007, when the tower was strengthened and the exterior carefully restored.
Inside, the church retains its Norman south doorway and a richly carved medieval font decorated with symbolic creatures — a reminder of the imagination of East Anglian craftsmen. The windows hold stained glass from several periods, from fragments of 15th-century glass to 19th- and early-20th-century work depicting biblical scenes meaningful to this rural community.
Pakenham itself is a remarkable village, unique in England for having both a working windmill and a working watermill still in operation — a living echo of its agricultural past. The church, with its blend of Norman beginnings, medieval development and Victorian renewal, reflects the same spirit of endurance that defines the village around it.
photo rights reserved by Ben
The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia, is one of the holiest and oldest churches in the country. Originally built in the 11th century, this imposing medieval cathedral is not only a masterpiece of Georgian architecture but also an important religious symbol. According to tradition, the sacred robe of Christ is buried beneath the cathedral, making it one of the most revered places of pilgrimage in the country. In front of the cathedral is a wide paved square, where visitors gather, light candles, and where processions regularly take place on feast days. The square has a serene, almost timeless atmosphere, surrounded by low shops, cafes, and traditional houses with wooden balconies. There is a pleasant mix of devotion and tourist bustle. What makes this square extra special is the breathtaking view of the Jvari Monastery, which sits high on a hill across the Aragvi River. Especially in clear weather, the silhouette of the small 6th-century church, perched on the rocks, is clearly visible. The Jvari Monastery is of great significance: it is said that Saint Nino placed a wooden cross here in the 4th century, with which Christianity began to take root in Georgia. The combination of ancient spiritual buildings, the mountainous landscape and the sacred rivers around, makes this place one of the most enchanting and spiritually charged locations in Georgia. Whether you are religious or not — there is a sense of eternity in the air here.
In the heart of the city of Mtskheta stands the imposing Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built between 1010 and 1029.
This masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most important religious buildings in the country. The cathedral is encircled by an impressive fortified wall, complete with battlements, towers, and ancient gates — giving it the appearance of a castle. Step through one of the gates, and you'll find yourself in a lively courtyard where faith and tradition are still very much alive.
De Svetitskhoveli-kathedraal in Mtskheta, Georgië, is een van de heiligste en oudste kerken van het land. Deze imposante middeleeuwse kathedraal, oorspronkelijk gebouwd in de 11e eeuw, is niet alleen een meesterwerk van Georgische architectuur, maar ook een belangrijk religieus symbool. Volgens de overlevering ligt onder de kathedraal het heilige kleed van Christus begraven, wat het tot een van de meest vereerde pelgrimsoorden in het land maakt. Voor de kathedraal ligt een breed geplaveid plein, waar bezoekers samenkomen, kaarsen branden, en waar regelmatig processies plaatsvinden op feestdagen. Het plein heeft een serene, bijna tijdloze sfeer, omringd door lage winkeltjes, cafés, en traditionele huizen met houten balkons. Er heerst een aangename mix van devotie en toeristische levendigheid. Wat dit plein extra bijzonder maakt, is het adembenemende uitzicht op het Jvari-klooster, dat hoog boven op een heuvel aan de overkant van de rivier de Aragvi ligt. Vooral bij helder weer is het silhouet van de kleine 6e-eeuwse kerk, bovenop de rotsen, duidelijk zichtbaar. Het Jvari-klooster is van grote betekenis: hier zou de heilige Nino in de 4e eeuw een houten kruis hebben geplaatst, waarmee het christendom in Georgië begon te wortelen. De combinatie van eeuwenoude spirituele gebouwen, het bergachtige landschap en de heilige rivieren rondom, maakt deze plek tot een van de meest betoverende en spiritueel geladen locaties van Georgië. Of je nu gelovig bent of niet — het voelt alsof hier iets eeuwigs in de lucht hangt.
Photography in Slovenia is all about the churches. There are around 3,000 of them, in a country that's geographically smaller than Wales. And many of them are very cutely perched on top of hills, surrounded by stunning Alpine scenery. You often get cloud inversions, but sadly not for us on this day. Never mind - this passing cloud at sunrise was pretty enough. The church is St Tomaz in Selca.
This parish church is within a beautiful setting in the grounds of Lanhydrock House in Cornwall. It is dedicated to St Hydroc who was a 5th century Cornish saint. Thought to date from the early 15th century, the church had major extensions and alterations towards the end of the 15th century. There have also been substantial alterations in subsequent years. It has a chancel, nave, north and south aisles and three-stage battlemented tower with one bell. The church is Grade I-listed and is a scheduled ancient monument.
Lanhydrock House can be seen beyond the trees on the far right of the picture and is owned by the National Trust. The Lanhydrock estate lies roughly half-way between Bodmin and Lostwithiel.
San Michele in Foro is a Roman Catholic church in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. The façade dates from the 13th century, with a large series of sculptures and inlays.
Thank you for your visits / comments / faves!
Saw this on Sunday and just had to take a photo.
L'église Saint-Jacques:
Protected historical monument. The church, located in the town centre, is built of pink granite and dedicated to Saint John. It features two naves side by side: one 11th century Roman nave and another 14th century Gothic one.
Info about the church, but sorry it's in French.
www.infobretagne.com/perros-guirec-eglise.htm
Thank you for your favourites. :O)
O portal gótico da igreja de Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, em Paris, construída entre os séculos XII e XV em frente ao Louvre, apresenta um grupo escultórico do início do século XIII, composto por três figuras religiosas em pedestais que sustentam representações agachadas. Estas figuras, típicas da iconografia medieval gótica, simbolizam temas como o peso do pecado e a condição humana inferior. Utilizadas para evidenciar a submissão do profano relativamente ao sagrado, as esculturas reforçam a hierarquia espiritual, colocando os santos em posição elevada, suportados por representações de vícios ou ignorância. O estilo caricatural e grotesco das figuras reflete o gosto medieval pelo contraste entre o sublime e o mundano, além de cumprir uma função pedagógica, ilustrando ensinamentos morais para uma população na maioria analfabeta. Assim, a arte religiosa servia como uma "Bíblia dos pobres", transmitindo mensagens que contribuíam para a educação moral e espiritual da época.
The Gothic portal of the Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois church in Paris, built between the 12th and 15th centuries in front of the Louvre, features a sculptural group from the early 13th century, consisting of three religious figures on pedestals that support crouching representations. These figures, typical of medieval Gothic iconography, symbolize themes such as the weight of sin and the inferior human condition. Used to highlight the submission of the profane to the sacred, the sculptures reinforce the spiritual hierarchy, placing the saints in a high position, supported by representations of vices or ignorance. The caricatured and grotesque style of the figures reflects the medieval taste for the contrast between the sublime and the mundane, as well as fulfilling a pedagogical function, illustrating moral teachings to a mostly illiterate population. Thus, religious art served as a "Bible for the poor", conveying messages that contributed to the moral and spiritual education of the time.
Duomo di Lucca - Cattedrale di San Martino.
Construction of the current cathedral began in 1060 (romanesque architecture). Construction of the west front started in 1204. The nave and transepts were rebuilt in Gothic style in the 14th century.
Thank you for your visits / comments / faves!
I can still see such beauty
When I open my inner eye
I can feel all those people waiting
Sense them swirling by
Down through the ages
Connected deep in stone
Often right beside me
Stopping me from being alone
The pull of the sacred
And the push of the profane
Entwine all of our worlds
Which one will claim
Celestial geometry
Creating signposts on the way
Reading the universal mind map
Can I come back some day
*****
This image had to be taken in Winter so that the base of the Celtic Cross could be seen, and the view through to the church in the background. Once the grasses start to grow and the meadow flowers this view becomes obscured. I became almost obsessive about it as it took me repeated attempts to achieve it. Not to mention the weather having its little games with me. But I am not one to give up, and finally I managed to capture the elements altogether in the right place and time. I wanted to explore the relationship between the Celtic Cross and the Italianate style Church, see if I could get them working together. The starkness of Winter enabled me to do that, and this work is the result.
This church is Glynde Church in East Sussex, UK, and as you all probably know by now, one of my most favourite places on earth.
I have paired this work with Clannad’s ‘In A Lifetime’ featuring Bono, another of my favourites where the connections with the land and the elements within it run deep.
And if you would like to see more of my work, please visit my website at:
The Chapel of Remembrance, situated in the Temple of Our Lady the Star of New Evangelization and St. John Paul II in Toruń, is the only memorial of its kind in the world. It was created to pay tribute to these Poles who risked their lives and the lives of their family members to save Jews during World War II.
I've posted another photo of this sculpture previously, but this one captures the incredible light filtering into the church at a primo time of day, with hints of the stained glass windows in the background.
Simon, the aggressive fisher who cowers and denies his spiritual master, who is transformed into a 'rock' of loyal service and faith--a fisher of humans--and captured in solid, muscular stone in this bas relief.
Presumably this relief of Peter the fisherman was sculpted by one of the monks of Westminster Abbey, the Fr. Dunstan Massey, OSB, since it is very similar to the other ones of him posted in the Abbey's website @ www.westminsterabbey.ca/artgallery.html
HFF! Photo taken while I was a passenger in a car driving along Lake Shore Blvd in Toronto.
Best seen large by clicking on the photo
Ladner United Church, Delta, BC
I wasn't aware when photographing the main church window and spire that a bird was soaring over head. It fits well with one of the songs in the United Church hymnal.
"She Flies On"
“She comes sailing on the wind,
her wings flashing in the sun;
on a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight,
her song rings throughout the night,
full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.”
- Voices United, #380
this current photo is from an amazing wedding for our second cousin. The real story is 84 years ago my wife's parents were married at this same altar
When Polish immigrants came to America back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they found comfort and community in their churches. Sweetest Heart of Mary Church was a cornerstone of the Polish community in Detroit. It remains a source of pride and a beacon of faith for Polish Americans in the metro Detroit area to this day. The Church project began in 1890 and was completed in 1893
225a 1 - Z62_8617 - lr-ps-wm
" Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation, and located at 89 Dunn Street at Lakeshore Road in downtown Oakville, Ontario, Canada."
Best seen large by clicking on the photo.
Established in 1854, the small village of Hanover in the middle of the Karoo was home, between 1900 and 1907, to the South African author Olive Schreiner. Its fine Anglican church is a national monument. Once a main crossroads for travellers inland, the N1 between Johannesburg and Cape Town has left it pretty much high and dry.
Taken over a ten-year period, between 2012 and 2022, this series of photographs is from a project on South African country villages and towns. Many of the images are of small Karoo towns, and many of these in turn are of the Dutch Reformed Churches whose steeples are visible for miles around in the vast, semi-desert region that lies, metaphorically and geographically, at South Africa’s centre.
There is something about these Karoo towns, in particular, that has always spoken to me - the stillness of the empty streets in the heat of the day, the white, shuttered cottages, the big skies overhead. And always, at the edge of town, or sprawling out into the arid land, the coloured settlement or African location. In South Africa, as elsewhere, as Faulkner wrote, ‘The past is never dead. It’s not even past.’
#hanovernortherncape #hanoversouthafrica #hanover #northerncape #anglicanchurch #oliveschreiner
#karoo
#southafrica
#travel
#architecture
#thisissouthafrica
#localislekker
#getawaymagazine
#gomagsa
#bbctravel
#churcharchitecture
#churchphotography
#blackandwhitearchitecture
#bnwarchitecture
#blackandwhitephotography
#bnwphotography
#bnwmood
#bnwphoto
#bnwmagazine
#documentaryphotography
#documentaryphotographer
@getawaymagazine
@raw_bnw_
@gomagsa
@bwphotomag
@bnwmagpicks
Back view of Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville. It is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation, and located at 89 Dunn Street at Lakeshore Road in downtown Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Best seen large by clicking on the photo.
Established in 1861, the small Karoo village of McGregor was originally called Lady Grey. It was renamed in 1905 in honour of the Rev. Andrew McGregor, who for forty years had served as the Dutch Reformed Minister for the area.
Taken over a ten-year period, between 2012 and 2022, this series of photographs is from a project on South African country villages and towns. Many of the images are of small Karoo towns, and many of these in turn are of the Dutch Reformed Churches whose steeples are visible for miles around in the vast, semi-desert region that lies, metaphorically and geographically, at South Africa’s centre.
There is something about these Karoo towns, in particular, that has always spoken to me - the stillness of the empty streets in the heat of the day, the white, shuttered cottages, the big skies overhead. And always, at the edge of town, or sprawling out into the arid land, the coloured settlement or African location. In South Africa, as elsewhere, as Faulkner wrote, ‘The past is never dead. It’s not even past.’
THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT AND FAVES
ON THE REACTIONS I WILL TRY TO RESPOND BACK
Ooo zo jammer dat deze prachtige kerk gesloten was :-(.
Toch nog een foto kunnen maken door het raam van de deur, al was die niet echt schoon meer :-)
De Drievuldigheidskerk in de Duitse stad Speyer is een barokke protestantse kerk,
De bouwperiode liep van 1701 tot 1717. De kerk wordt beschouwd als een "uitstekende prestatie van protestantse kerkarchitectuur en een juweel van de barok". Ze is gewijd aan de heilige Drie-eenheid.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, such a shame this beautiful church was closed :-(.
I still managed to take a photo through the door window, even though it wasn't exactly clean anymore :-)
The Trinity Church in the German city of Speyer is a Baroque Protestant church.
Construction lasted from 1701 to 1717. The church is considered an "outstanding achievement of Protestant church architecture and a jewel of the Baroque." It is dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Looking at the back of the church from the top part of the Market place.
L'église Saint-Jacques:
Protected historical monument. The church, located in the town centre, is built of pink granite and dedicated to Saint John. It features two naves side by side: one 11th century Roman nave and another 14th century Gothic one.
Info about the church, but sorry it's in French.
www.infobretagne.com/perros-guirec-eglise.htm
Better viewed large and thank you for your favourites. :O)
Medieval church St Mary's at Burgh St Peter, Norfolk - the history can be viewed here www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/burghstpeter/burghstpeter.htm
Looking back down towards St Davids Cathedral, in the city of St Davids (Pembrokeshire, in southwesternmost Wales), on a morning in late October 2024.
The cathedral, known in Welsh as Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi, is located on the site of a monastic community established during the 6th century by Dewi Sant – the Welsh name of St David – who became the patron saint of Wales. Unlike many such churches, instead of being on a prominent height, it is tucked into a hollow, which would have made it less visible from the nearby sea, providing some (although not sufficient) protection from Viking raids and other piracy during the early medieval period. The local stone is a characteristic grey with pink-to-purple tints.
Bishop Peter de Leia began the construction of the current building in 1181, during the reign of Henry II. By then, the place had official papal privilege as an important pilgrimage destination. Repairs, redesign, and expansion continued through 1540, but pillaging and destruction resulted from periods of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the (so-called “English”) Civil War. Noted church architect George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878) restored most of the building, including a redesigned tower; the building and its decorations thus incorporate Victorian elements. St Davids continues to be active as an Anglican cathedral as well as a historic site welcoming visitors.
The cathedral city of St Davids (also spelled St David’s, based on the Welsh Tyddewi, or House of David) has the official status of a city, the UK’s smallest city by population and urban area, even though its size corresponds to that of many a large village. In addition to the cathedral and other listed historic structures, the Oriel y Parc Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Visitor Centre is located in St Davids. Some of the Park’s varied landscapes are visible in the background.
(Historical information from panels in the cathedral church as well as the official website of St Davids Cathedral and Wikipedia, both last consulted 24 December 2024).
[St David's 67 cathedral from above 2024-10-23 o; PA232052]