Book Description
Filled with spectacular color photos and intriguing detail, these informative books belong in the library of every student of architecture.

A visual chronicle of Christian houses of worship, from the towering cathedrals of Europe to simple New England chapels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice reference
The book is a good size for art references, with nice information about the structures of churchs and meaning behind the designs.Lots of good pictures (B&W). ... Read more

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Beautiful four-color paintings and illustrations!Olanawas the home of Frederic Church, a student of Thomas Cole and a majorfigure in the Hudson River School of landscape painting.Called byChurch "the center of the world," Olana's Perrsian-style house andromantically-designed grounds are a "perfect Eden of picturesquebeauty." ... Read more

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Olana
I find the book fulfills my reason for buying it which is to further study the colors church used in the house. ... Read more

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From the Moorish synagogue in small Texas town, to the New England meetinghouse nestled in the palm trees of Hawaii, this comprehensive historical survey of America's religious architecture celebrates the country's ethnic and spiritual diversity through the magnificent breadth of these community landmarks. The first comprehensive architectural and cultural history of its kind, the book features 500 places of worship nationwide, many listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Includes over 300 black-and-white photographs and foreword by Bill Moyers, creator of the PBS "Genesis" series.Amazon.com Review
Does America have its equivalent of Notre Dame or Chartres? Ina way, it boasts just the opposite--no monuments to monolithicsplendor, but instead has humbler tributes to cultural diversity. Thisvolume, a kind of photo-history, reveals Marilyn J. Chiat's passionateadvocacy for the preservation of our nation's religiousarchitecture. Places of worship are for her "... the most visibleand defining features of our rural and urban landscapes. From theLower East Side of New York, where the decaying remains of synagoguesstill speak of the Jewish immigrants who once filled the tenements andlabored in sweatshops, to California's coast, where Spanish missionsstill serve as reminders of the earliest Europeans to settle here,places of worship bear witness to our nation's diverse heritage."In large part, this volume is a celebration of America's immigrantpast.

The churches, synagogues, and meeting halls featured inAmerica's Religious Architecture meet specific criteria--allare listed on the National Register of Historic Places; all representan ethnic culture; all played a vital role in their communities; allhave architectural merit. Chiat takes the reader on a tour throughnine regions in the U.S., pointing out the creative combining ofethnic traditions with local building styles and materials.

Theentry on Maine, for example, reveals a diversity of that region thatmay surprise the reader. A province of Massachusetts until 1820, theCongregationalists were the bedrock, to be penetrated in the 1770s bythe hardy German Lutherans (Maine's rough weather and terrain and itsterritorial battles discouraged settlement). Its two Anglican parisheswould later blossom into an elaborately architected Episcopaleanism,and it would see the migration of Acadian French Roman Catholics fromNova Scotia. This is a good representation of the book's format--adiscussion of the significant ethnic arrivals, their faiths, and thesubsequent buildings. There's a photograph (black and white) on everypage, with the address of each building and the name of the architectand builder.

In such a compilation, there are bound to be omissionswhich will jolt any reader who has his or her own favorite historichaunt. For example, there is no mention of the Moravians who settledBethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the 1700s and no images of their elegant,strikingly simple form. That religious community left behind awondrous core of civic and religious buildings still vital to thecommunity's spiritual and educational life. But America's ReligiousArchitecture is an otherwise informative and well-organized tour,replete with fascinating tidbits such as this comment on the RodefShalom Temple in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "The Moorish stylebegan appealing to Jewish congregations in the latter half of thenineteenth century, a time when Jews were seeking an architecturalstyle that would not be confused with Christian churcharchitecture." A noble reference work, belonging somewherebetween your crafts shelf and your coffee table. --HollisGiammatteo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An author responds to reviews
As the author of America's Religious Architecture, I would like to thank Hollis Giammatteo for the thoughtful comments on the book. I would also like to suggest to the anonymous reviewer from Pittsburgh that she/he read a book's preface and introduction before writing a review. Two errors to be noted:Bill Moyers did not write an introduction, and I am not the Director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.I am the Director of the Center for the Documentation and Preservation of Places of Worship, and affiliate of the NCCJ, MN-Dakotas Region and adjunct faculty in the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Minnesota.One last comment, as I noted in my preface, there are over 250,000 places of worship in the USA; I am quite sure I have around 249,500 of them angry at me for not including them in this book.I can only hope they will understand that the few represent the many.

Disappointment.
It is hard to determine what America's Religious Architecture is supposed to be.The survey of religious buildings is idiosyncratic, to say the least.People who know a community likely will be puzzled why certain buildings were included, and other, better, candidates excluded.Many of the photographs are so poorly composed, exposed, or reproduced that they are useless for revealing architectural detail. I bought the book based on a flyer from Preservation Press implying it was an architectural reference,and returned it to Amazon.com beacuse it is unusable as such. My apologies to Amazon.com for the inconvenience. ... Read more

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"This is a surprising detective story tracing the very complex paths and intersections of cultural, iconographical, and theological influences that formed the architecture and liturgical spaces of New Spain. I don’t know of another scholar who has commanded this kind of knowledge about the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim streams of influence and interaction which appeared in the chapels, temples, and theatrical ritual spaces of Mexico." —David Carrasco, Harvard University

"In this engaging iconographic study, Jaime Lara presents an elegantly argued account of the multiple cultural beliefs, symbols, and metaphors that took form in the built environment of early colonial Mexico. Marshalling extensive documentary and visual evidence, Lara’s compelling narrative illuminates the complex and layered meanings that these ‘sermons in stone’ held for a contemporary audience." —Susan V. Webster, University of St. Thomas

City, Temple, Stage is a new interpretation of the art, architecture, and liturgy created for the conversion of Aztecs and other native peoples of central Mexico by European Franciscan missionaries in the mid-sixteenth century. Jaime Lara contends that the design of missionary centers, or so-called "fortress monasteries," can only be understood against the backdrop of the eschatological concerns of the age and the missionary techniques of the mendicant friars. Lara argues that these architectural constructions are quasi-theatrical sets for elaborate educational and liturgical events that served as rehearsals for the last age of world history.

By analyzing the iconography associated with the Aztec religion and with Euro-Christian apocalyptic texts, Lara has been able to trace a consistent thread through two distinct religious and liturgical imaginations. The close parallels between the symbols and metaphors of Aztec religion and those of medieval Catholicism fostered an unusual synthesis between different world visions. These visual, literary, and cultic metaphors survive in what we today call Mexican Catholicism.

Drawing on his expertise as a medievalist, Latin Americanist, and architectural and liturgical historian, Lara offers an astonishingly comprehensive and compelling examination of the churches and liturgies created by the Franciscans for new Aztec Christians. Lara’s fascinating narrative is supported by more than 230 images. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

city, temple stage
This oversized book is a most interesting and scholarly examination of the role of architecture and theater as tools that the sixteenth century Spanish missionaries used to convert the Mesoamerican natives to Christianity.The original missionaries; twelve Franciscans in 1524, twelve Dominicans in 1526 and seven Augustinians in 1533; noted the similarities between European Christian thought of the time and the Aztec beliefs they found in New Spain.Although fundamentally different, coincidental similarities abounded: both cultures thought the world was about to end; both used architecture for rituals and pageantry, both loved theatrical presentations using large casts of people. The early missionaries took the notion of building a New Jerusalem literally and the mendicant compounds were built with the plans of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem in mind.These complexes included open altar areas and architectural details such as a short tower or a row of three arches that could symbolize Jerusalem.Drama became a catechetical tool and the missionaries knew the natives responded favorable to the sights and sounds on the altar, be it the liturgy of the mass or a religious play. Both cultures loved crosses and Aztec crosses would include an obsidian mirror at the center, reflecting the sun.This sunlight could be linked to Jesus, the light of the world, or to the Canticle of the Sun of St. Francis.Likewise, the Aztec blood sacrifices seemed to make possible a fundamental acceptance of the life-giving sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.A culture familiar with rituals of cutting out a sacrificial victim's heart might embrace the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.This book is very scholarly with 50 pages of notes and a 29 page bibliography, but it is not only for the scholar.It is oversized, beautifully designed and richly illustrated with hundreds of color examples of Aztec relics, early missionary buildings, rare manuscript pages and remarkable building decorations, many photographed by the author on site.A superb demonstration of how the mendicant friars "changed the root metaphor and Christianized a continent."

... Read more

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The Pyramids and the Taj Mahal are witness to the extravagant architectural tributes that, throughout human history, the great and the wealthy have paid to their dead. In this book, an architectural historian provides a history of funerary architecture in western Europe from the earliest megalithic tombs of prehistory to the establishment of public cemeteries in the 19th century. The author traces the ways in which these structures represent changing ideas about the after-life as well as changes in architectural style. He discusses a wide range of funerary architecture: prehistoric tombs such as the "Treasury of Atreus" at Mycenae; great pagan mausolea such as those of Halicarnassus and Hadrian; early Christian ones such as S. Costanza in Rome and the mausoleum of Theodoric at Ravenna; dynastic burial churches such as Saint Denis and Westminster Abbey; medieval chantry chapels; Renaissance and Baroque family chapels; and neo-classical mausolea such as those at Castle Howard in England and at Hamilton in Scotland. Drawing on both archaeological and art-historical sources, Colvin brings together and summarizes the most recent research on funerary architecture.He also makes his own contribution ot the subject, placing the architectural monuments in the context of secular patronage and religious beliefs and offering new analyses of architectural developments. The book, which includes 7 colour plates, 268 black and white illustrations, 90 specially drawn plans and elevations, and an extensive bibliography, should interest both scholars and the general reader. ... Read more

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An excellent book on a fascinating subject
You may have to love medieval architecture to love this book, but if you do, you'll discover a very exciting journey into the development of Romanesque and Gothic Architecture from Roman and Byzantine forms. And very well written! ... Read more

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Small enough to fit in a pocket yet serious enough to provide real answers, this primer is a must-have for architecture and history buffs, tourists, and churchgoers interested in decoding the styles and symbols of religious buildings. Every building contains clues embedded in its design that identify not only its architectural style but also who designed it, what kind of congregation it was built for, and why. This practical yet charming handbook is the key to decoding the style, history, evolution, and social significance of religious buildings. Not strictly limited to churches, it also covers abbeys, chapels, and monasteries, among other structures. Organized according to architectural element (windows, domes, arches, etc.), each element is presented in chronological order. Additional chapters explore the architectural influence of geography, history, and various creeds, along with an illustrated timeline showing how, where, and in many cases why certain church features evolved through the centuries. There is also a useful introduction to naming each component of a church, from vaults to buttresses and transepts to apses. All entries are illustrated with period engravings and line drawings. This book will be invaluable for architecture buffs and anyone who has ever wondered why classic New England churches are white with little ornament, why Quaker meetinghouses have no altars, or why Episcopalians traditionally favored the Gothic style. ... Read more

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With nearly six hundred photographs and drawings of more than one hundred churches and chapels throughout Europe, this elegantly designed volume presents a panoramic examination of church building in post World War II Europe. For the first time since the nineteenth century, the design and construction of houses of worship has resurfaced as a major focus in contemporary architecture and this stunning volume shows why.

From England, Scotland and Ireland to Italy, Portugal, and Spain, throughout Scandinavia and including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the churches studied here illustrate the many ways religious sentiment lends itself to the architectural discipline. The range of artistry is equally vast, featuring works by Alvar Aalto, Mario Botta, Egon Eiermann, Le Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa, Rudolf Schwarz, Alvaro Siza, Heinz Tesar, Aldo Van Eyck and Peter Zumthor. In addition, essays by respected architectural historians as well as prominent theologians discuss the variety of ecclesiastical buildings as well as how the church is viewed both from a Roman Catholic and Protestant perspective. Students of religion and architecture alike will find much to learn from and admire in this unique and richly illustrated book. ... Read more

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The first major study of an outstanding monument of Late Byzantine architecture in Yugoslavia, this book is also the first extensive examination of Serbian medieval architecture to appear in English. The author moves beyond previous arguments concerning the distinctive or provincial character of architectural developments in Serbia and shows that the monastery church of Gracanica is a product of an expanded Serbian cultural framework and represents one of the summits of Late Byzantine architecture. The comprehensive analysis of the planning, form, spatial composition, structure, and architectural decoration of the building clearly reveals the creative synthesis achieved by the Late Byzantine architect. In addition, this study provides a new understanding of the history of Late Byzantine architecture in general and interprets Gracanica in light of the changed political climate in Serbia during the first two decades of the fourteenth century. ... Read more

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Architects, says Rose, have always understood that architecture isn’t inconsequential. Sacred architecture, in particular, has an immense influence on how people think and feel — and even on how they pray and believe. In Tiers of Glory explains why, and it does so from the perspective of history and tradition.

Rose (author of The Renovation Manipulation and Ugly as Sin) here provides a clear, comprehensive summation of the development of Catholic Church architecture from the Church’s earliest days to modern times. He identifies the canons that have been common to Catholic churches throughout history — from Roman basilicas to Byzantine and Carolingian churches, from pilgrimage shrines to Gothic churches, from Renaissance classicism to Baroque opulence — that is, elements that have been common to churches in every age except our own.

Rose details how this organic development has been broken by the banal, uninspiring, and sometimes ugly church buildings of today. But he insists that Catholics need not simply endure these blunders and missteps. With a series of enlightening prescriptions for the future of Catholic church architecture, Rose explains how the Church can restore continuity with the great churches of the past — and why it is crucial to do so.

Gloriously illustrated with over 200 full-color photos and renderings, In Tiers of Glory is a much neededand welcome addition to the literature on church architecture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Splendidly illustrated and very informative
Michael Rose's In Tiers of Glory is an excellent follow-up to his earlier book Ugly As Sin. Whereas the earlier book delved into the theology and philosophy of church architecture in order to show how it had been derailed by modernists with an obsession with novelty and an aversion to orthodox Christianity, In Tiers of Glory examines the historical aspects of the Catholic tradition in church architecture. Written for the layman, it is amazingly clear, concise and accurate. Chapter 10 on the return of Iconoclasm and the advent of modernism is worth the price alone. Its greatest asset perhaps is that it is generously illustrated with dozens of examples of beautiful church architecture (along with a few warty toads for contrast).

Reconnecting with Tradition in a Revolutionary Way
The standard stereotype of history, architectural or otherwise, imagines humanity leaping from one sea-change to the next.In the study of architectural history, one style gives way to the next as each generation of designers seek to outdo one another in the name of progress.However, with In Tiers of Glory Michael Rose seeks to understand not these ruptures but the more important element of the underlying continuity of principle that runs throughout the development of church design.It is this unity which ties the various styles of Christian architecture together like a vast tectonic Communion of Saints.And, as Michael Rose shows us, it is the deliberate rupture of those common elements that stretch across the centuries, done in the name of a false modernity, that has led to the current decadence of sacred art.

Unlike past attempts to reform Christian architecture, art and worship, In Tiers of Glory is not merely revivalist: it proposes no single idyllic golden age of architecture but instead opens our eyes to see the beauties of every age (and the organic continuity which ties them together) and urges us to learn from them, synthesize them, and with these lessons, evangelize the art of the future.

Rose does us a great service by liberating us from the trap of the "spirit of the age" and showing us we can choose beauty over banality.Indeed, as he shows us, many architects already have.In his final chapter, "The Wisdom of Hindsight," he showcases the works of contemporary architects, such as Thomas Gordon Smith and Duncan Stroik, who have drawn on more than two thousand years of experience rather than merely pursue change for change's sake.Magnificently illustrated with color photographs and specially-commissioned watercolor renderings, In Tiers of Glory is not only a joy for the committed architect to read, but also a must for any layperson looking to be educated about the history--and the future--of church architecture. ... Read more

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Churches, Cathedrals, Cloisters presents in 176 large-format pages the most beautiful monuments to arise out of 1250 years of German, Austrian and Swiss sacred architecture. The luxurious illustrations extend from the time of Charlemagne to the close of the twentieth century. The text thus offers an intensive overview of these thematic focal points and the correlating architectural history of Europe. The individual titles go into detail about distinctive features of each country and their most significant national monuments. Characteristics unique to each epoch are addressed in brief introductions, followed by large-format illustrations with detailed and specific information about each of the buildings presented in the book. ... Read more

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This book presents for the first time in English a detailed survey of the art and furnishings as well as the architecture of Netherlandish churches at the time of the Reformation. The many illustrations support the author's conclusion that Netherlandish churches formed Renaissance environments whose new style of furnishing and stained glass included pagan Roman overtones that conflicted with Protestant forms of piety that resulted in the famous iconoclastic riots of 1566. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Unprecedented art-historical approach to Dutch history.
With some 200 illustrations, including many photos by the author, and with vast documentation from Netherlands archives, Jeremy Bangs has provided a uniquely valuable and fascinating account of how the "bare ruinedchoirs" of churches in the Low Countries reveal the "before andafter" of the Calvinist Protestant image riots of 1566 [the correctdate in the title, by the way]. It will enrich any study of 16th-centuryDutch and Belgian history.Art historians are using it, and otherhistorians will do well to pay attention.Prof. Dr. C. O. Bangs(admittedly and proudly the author's father).cobangs@worldnet.att.net ... Read more

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This magisterial study of Gothic architecture traces the meaning and development of the Gothic style through medieval churches across Europe. Ranging geographically from Poland to Portugal and from Sicily to Scotland and chronologically from 1093 to 1530, the book analyzes changes from Romanesque to Gothic as well as the evolution within the Gothic style and places these changes in the context of the creative spirit of the Middle Ages.

In its breadth of outlook, its command of detail, and its theoretical enterprise, Frankl's book has few equals in the ambitious Pelican History of Art series. It is single-minded in its pursuit of the general principles that informed all aspects of Gothic architecture and its culture. In this edition Paul Crossley has revised the original text to take into account the proliferation of recent literature—books, reviews, exhibition catalogues, and periodicals—that have emerged in a variety of languages. New illustrations have also been included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Gothic Dissertation
The illustrations are extensive and excellent.The text reads like a Ph.D. dissertation.The reader is assumed to be familiar with the technical language of Gothic architecture; if you are not, this will be tough going.

Only useful for Architectural Elements
This book is an extremely extensive coverage of Gothic Architecture throughout Europe.The quality and coverage of the work is unsurpassed.However, it only covers the architectural elements of Gothic Cathedrals and does not cover aspects such as stained glass windows, wood carvings and sculptural art within Gothic Cathedrals.If you are looking for a general work on various aspects of Gothic Art, this is not it. ... Read more

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More than fifty astonishingly varied churches, a group of buildings without parallel anywhere in the world, are crowded into Europe's financial centre, the City of London. Simon Bradley explores their unique history, arcitecture, rich fittings and stained glass. Lost churches are listed, and their little known churchyards explored. Numerous text figures and excellent photographs (newly taken by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments) help make this the indispensable guide to the church architecture of London's ancient 'Square Mile'. London: The City Churches is the second paperback addition to Pevsner's Buildings of England series. ... Read more

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