Most Effective Places of Worship: 2006
European communities have devoted the sweat and wealth of countless generations into building their places of worship. Some are cold and empty; others inspire prayer. They are "effective" in that they produce a very definite and powerful response. Which European churches, mosques, temples, or other places of worship affected you the most?
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St Martin in the Fields Church London
A must see and do while in London, I have just returned. Choirs are wonderful, Basement cafeteria is great and well-priced for London. All proceeds go to social causes+++ It is across the street from National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.Also brass rubbing center is in basement.
Js
USA Wed 11/22/2006
Cathedrals
Canterbury Cathedral is so peaceful at Christmas time. Evening mass at Notre Dame is good during low tourist times and if you stay for the whole mass. St. Stephen's cathedral in Budapest is also wonderful. Although these are famous cathedrals, I also worshipped at many other smaller churches that were inspiring too. Even when you don't understand the priest, you feel united to the people through God.
USA Sat 11/04/2006
Meryama - Ephesus Turkey
A wonderful atmosphere at the very small church of Mary at Ephesus. Reputed to be the home of the Virgin Mary following her departure from the Hly Land after the Cruxifiction. Mass in 7 languages.
USA Mon 10/09/2006
Worshipping in Exeter, UK
In Exeter, England, Riverside Baptist Church is the place to worship! It is just above the historic Quay right inside the city wall and easy to find. The building is over 250 years old and has an intriguing past! A convert of George Whitfield built the church and was it's first pastor (Tabernacle Church back then). His alcoholic wife would pawn his "go-to-meetin'" clothes for booze money and he'd have to go buy them back! It is currently pastored by an American missionary.
USA Sat 09/09/2006
Cathedral in Monserrat
When i was in Barcelona, I went on a trip to see the Cathedral in Monserrat. The drive up the mountain was scenic.Going to the Cathedral was certainly one of the high points of my trip.
Jaime O.
Houston, Texas USA Wed 09/06/2006
Feels like coming home
When the organ started playing it felt like I was coming home to my childhood. We had to choose between evening services at Bath Abbey (a cathedral like building) and St. Nicholas church in Bathampton. I am so glad we opted for the local church. The priest was forthright and loving. The people welcomed us as their own family. The church itself is beautiful. If you go tell the Ray Bennett and Fr. Paul I said , "HI".
Tracie <email>
Redding, CA USA Sun 08/06/2006
Churches in Paris and Hampton
We took Rick's advice and visited St. Sulpice in Paris, and it is one of our favourite cathedrals in Europe. The sculpture of the Virgin behind the altar brought me to tears. It was a very reaffirming sight for me, on the same day I found out that my grandfather was very ill.
I also loved the chapel at Hampton Court Palace outside London. It was very peaceful, and there were pieces of paper on which you could write the name of a loved one for the congregation and other visitors to pray for. It really made me feel that my pop was looked after, especially when he passed away 6 months later.
Ashley
Victoria, BC Canada Sun 06/18/2006
Canterbury Cathedral
Four years ago, I was in an international children's choir that sang several times in Canterbury Cathedral. One night, we sang the Evensong service. I must say that that cathedral absolutly sends chills up my spine. It is so gorgeous. I suppose that I am partial to that one because I have personal memories of singing there, but I think everyone should attend a service in canterbury.
The town surrounding the cathedral is darling as well and is worth a train ride to visit.
Ashley <email>
Johnston City, IL USA Wed 06/14/2006
High Mass at the Duomo, Florence, Italy
On April 1,2006, we attended Mass at the Duomo in Florence. It was a High Mass, in the Catholic Tradition and I was tremendously moved with the entire experience. As a life long Catholic, I had hoped to attend Mass in both Rome at St. Peter's--which we did--and at the Duomo as well. The Mass at the Duomo, a high mass, was very moving. The small congregation, the reading of the "Good Shepard"--which I learned from elementary classes in a local language class--the piety of the celebrants--all contributed to a memorable experience that will remain with me forever.
Solemnity, piety, fidelity--they all came to life in a Mass that I barely could understand--but will hold in my heart forever.
D. Ann
Lakewood, CO USA Mon 05/29/2006
Church of the Reformation
Tears came to my eyes as we sang "A Mighty Fortress" at the Stadtkirche in Wittenberg, Germany (60 miles south of Berlin) This was the church where Luther wrote the hymn. I was overcome with emotion and could not sing the first verse of the hymn as I became deeply aware of the significance of the words and context of when it was first played. On Saturday evenings from May through October 31st., English speaking services are held in either the Stadtkirche or the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg. People from all over the world were present for the service.
Steven Rice <email>
Columbus, Ohio USA Sat 03/25/2006
Franciscan church, Krakow
I have two favorites for Catholic services:
Krakow's Franciscan church: St. Mary on the main square has the history, and the more ornate altarpieces. But Franciscan has incredible energy. What I remember most is not the amazing Art Nouveau stained glass windows (see http://galeria.klp.pl/p-7154.html) but that on a Sunday morning the pews were packed absolutely full, with lots of college students, an energetic and seemingly charismatic priest (I don't speak Polish), and everyone singing the rafters off with traditional hymns.
Also, Corpus Christi at Peterskirche in Munich began with a 10-minute procession that hits all the main churches in the old city. The organ there really puts the "fear of God" in you.
Most disappointing: Brussels' big cathedrals are very sparsely attended. There was an interesting Congolese choir at Michel-et-Gudule that almost made it worth it, but a huge cathedral with 15 gray haired people in it and maybe two married couples is too depressing. I went to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Palm Sunday last year and there were so few of us they had Mass in the basement. It is a really cool building to look at though -- not too many Art Deco basilicas in the world.
Mark Houser
Pittsburgh, PA USA Wed 03/22/2006
Definately St Martin in the Fields!!!
USA Wed 02/22/2006
St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London
While most people are heading for St. Paul's Cathedral & Westminster Abbey while in London, don't miss a service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square. I have been there for services on Ash Wednesday, Christmas Day, and other Sundays. It's a beautiful, peaceful church, very involved in social issues, and the services are lovely. And there is some of the best music in London.
PS St. Paul's Cathedral also does a wonderful Thanksgiving Day service for homesick Americans...I cried through the whole thing!
Cindy
St. Paul, MN USA Wed 02/15/2006
Sunday Mass in english at the Berliner Dom.
During the 10 am Mass each Sunday, an English translator is on duty at the Berliner Dom in Berlin.
It meant sitting in a rear alcove but enhanced my Christmas experience to understand the sermon.
Steve
Bellevue, WA USA Sat 02/04/2006
Sacred Sacre Coeur
The stunning white cathedral looking out over Paris on Montmartre is our spiritual home when we travel in Paris. I visited twenty years ago as a student and felt an instant connection to it. When I brought my husband to mass there last year, he felt overwhelmed by it, too. More inspiring than Notre Dame.
Sara E.
Raleigh, NC USA Mon 01/09/2006