Medieval Influences On Our Churches
I'm not sure how many people realize that our churches and architecture, even in America, are influenced by medieval traditions. My congregation has a somewhat typical building reflective of the neo-Gothic revival style, or more accurately a "Collegiate Gothic" style. Although Gothic Revival in architecture waned in popularity long before this (a revival of architectural styles in the 1800s which revived styles prevalent from 1300 to 1500), its style lingered on in churches into the mid-20th century. My church was built in the early 1950s. The fist picture is the altar area prior to renovations we made by removing the red velvet reredo and wooden valance above it, along with the illuminated wall cross. The next picture shows the renovations. I did not realize until recently that an altar up against the wall was a development in the medieval church in the 1200s. I know that this was changed after Vatican II (in the early to mid 1960s) when freestanding altars became m