Most Effective Places of Worship: 2007
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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Churches in France
Okay, yes, Notre Dame is magnificent, but I've found that it is more enjoyable on the outside. Inside, there are *always* throngs of tourists wearing inappropriate attire and taking pictures (even during Mass). It's like Six Flags Over Jesus. Outside, on the other hand, there's plenty of elbow room, plenty of space to enjoy the flying buttresses and gargoyles, and there are usually interesting people in the park beside the west entrance: musicians, jugglers, performance artists.
For some actual worship in environments more conducive to prayer, there are some architectural gems within walking distance of Notre Dame. St. Severin is a superb gothic church only blocks away. St. Germain-Des-Pres is close as well, and worth a visit.
St. Sulpice sees more tourist attention these days (thanks to Dan Brown and Tom Hanks), but still maintains a prayerful atmosphere and has arguably the best organ in France.
St. Germain-L'Auxerrois (around the block from the Louvre) is another Medieval jewel, in the heart of everything, without constant crowds.
Matt
Athens, GA USA Sat 11/10/2007
Cathedral music
If you are looking for good music then check out the local Cathedral and churches. Often they have free or low cost concerts. Also when I was in Austria there was usually a Mozart Mass every Sunday morning at the big churches. You can't beat it and it's free. Remember though that churches are primarily for prayer and worship, so make your trip a spiritual experience as well as a holiday.
Jim
Washington, DC USA Thu 09/20/2007
Orthodox Cathedrals
Russia was definitely the most exotic and foreign destination I've been to. Although it was truly amazing, it felt very far away, and sometimes hard to understand what was going on around me (my first experience with a non-romance language). So, stepping into the Orthodox Cathedrals was very comforting! It's amazing to be halfway around the world and surrounded by a completely unknown language, and yet recognize the figures in the icons, the rituals, and the cadences of the music and prayers. There's nothing for a genuine travel experience like slipping under the ropes with "no tourists beyond this point" signs to light a candle and join a group of worshippers!
USA Sat 06/16/2007
worshipping in Europe
I have been to Europe many times but the stand out experience ever was midnight Christmas eve mass in the Salzburg Cathedral. People line up outside in the snow 2 hours before the service starts, the Archbishop was attending and at the end of the service all the light were lowered, candles flickering and a trio with just guitar sang 'Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht' with the refrain from the choir loft behind us with a full choir, my goodness I thought I was there with the angels in heaven that night.
Chere <email>
Kelso, WA USA Tue 02/27/2007
Stop in at any Polish Church
Go into any church in Poland and experience an epiphany of religion and
culture. Young people in lines for confession, young priests in cassocks and young happy nuns in full habit. It is like a Catholic Disneyland only its real. At anytime of day there will be young people praying in these glorious churches. I hear the Poles are rejuvenating the churches of England and Ireland also.
Dave
NY, NY USA Sat 02/24/2007
A week of worship and music
One of my most memorable occasions was attending the opening service and the evensongs that were part of the Three Choirs Festival, held in Hereford, England in August 2006. The cathedrals of Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester have taken turns hosting this festival since the early nineteenth century (it will be in Gloucester in 2007), and while the concerts, available all day and every evening for a week, are splendid, worship services are an integral part of the events. There's the cathedral's normal Sunday service, followed by a splendid afternoon service to celebrate the opening of the festival, and evensongs four days during the week, all featuring the music of the choirs of the three cathedrals. I was with a group from the Episcopal cathedral in Minneapolis, and we were all impressed with the quality of the music, as well as the quality of the preaching and the prayers, and the friendliness and approachability of the cathedral clergy and the people of Hereford.
Karen
Minneapolis, MN USA Fri 02/16/2007
London's Kensington Temple, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral
In addition to Holy Trinity Brompton (mentioned in another post), another wonderful contemporary church is Kensington Temple, near the Notting Hill tube station. The congretation and the worship were a soul-satisfying and diverse blend; just like modern London. Our family loved it - even seated in the front row! Around the corner to the east is an excellent Indian restaurant which advertised "Buffet" but was more "Family Style." We also attended Evensong at Westminster Abbey...they post a final schedule about two weeks ahead on their website.
Checking the site for Caterbury Cathedral allowed us to change plans and attend the Dec 29 service commemorating the 736th anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket. More than 1,000 people attended and we carried lighted candles down to the spot where he was murdered. After conducting the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury graciously shook hands with everyone as they left. Then we met two of the monks from Canterbury -an amazing day.
Beth
Huntsville, AL USA Fri 02/16/2007
Off the beaten track in Wales
Cheating a bit, I suppose, giving Wales as a European destination when I live in England only 12 or so miles from the Welsh border! However, just over an hour's drive from where I live is a tiny church perched on a hillside in the Black Mountains along a single track road that ends at a farm gate.
If peace and silence are your "cup of tea", make your way to Partrishow. You'll need a decent map to find it. Below the church is a Holy Well dedicated to St Issui. The legend is that he was a hermit in these parts, but was murdered by one to whom he gave shelter. Where Issui fell, the life-giving water sprang up. The way to the well is marked by an ancient stone carved with a Maltese cross, possibly a place from where Gerald of Wales - Giraldus Cambriensis - preached the crusade in the 12th century.
The church is a little further up the hill, and is surrounded by wild flowers for most of the year; paricularly white snowdrops in early spring, yellow daffodils, the national flower of Wales, in March. Inside the church is an ancient and beautifully carved rood screen, probably hidden during the Reformation and believed to be local work, as the Red Dragon of Wales is carved into the corners. Just take in the utter silence of the place and its location. The only sounds you might hear will be the sighing of the wind, the bleating of sheep on the hillside or the mewing of a buzzard soaring in the sky overhead.
Celtic Christianity stressed links with the natural world - there at Partrishow you can experience the mystery and delight of this fusion.
Keith <email>
Bristol, UK Sun 02/11/2007
Awesome contemporary worship in London
My daughter lived in London for all of last year. She attended Holy Trinity Brompton Church (HTB) which is near the V&A. When we visited there with her, we were blown away by the amazing, fervent worship. They have an incredible musical team, led by Tim Hughes, who has written some of the most popular contemporary Christian songs on the radio. But mostly, the wholehearted worship of the congregants (most of whom are in their 20's & 30's) was what moved me. We heard 2 of their several pastors speak, and they were excellent. It's well worth the visit to HTB for a worship experience that you won't soon forget!
joy
new port richey, fl USA Thu 02/08/2007
Two very different churches
Two churches really stick out in my memory, though I drag my husband into just about every one we pass. First, the Kolner Dom in Cologne is amazing. My German is fair and I understood most of the afternoon prayer service. The voices raised in prayer echoing through the incredibly tall space was amazing, especially after the organ thundered to life. The Wells Cathedral in southern England is also something special. The golden afternoon light shining off the the west face is lovely and the choirs from the Wells Cathedral School add a special element to Evensong. It was magical.
PJ
Catania, Sicily Italy Thu 02/01/2007
Ancestors' church
Twice we have attended services at St. Mary's (Church of Ireland) in Shinrone, Co. Offaly. What adds extra significance for us is that my ancestors worshipped there in the 18th and 19th centuries. My 6-greats-grandfather, John Robinson Sr., was the parish clerk at St. Mary's for 52 years, until his death in 1779. Worshipping there (aside from the spiritual benefits) greatly increased my sense of personal connection to Ireland. On top of that, the clergy and congregation were friendly and welcoming, with true Irish hospitality.
My suggestion: if you know where your ancestors came from, consider worshipping where they worshipped. It will give you more insight into their lives, and may give you the same "coming home" feeling it gave me.
Steve Moore <email>
Claypool, IN USA Thu 01/25/2007