In the past, stained glass back-lighting has been quite difficult. The fluorescent and incandescent light sources we had to work with created heat, were hard to access, and had color issues. The stained glass never looked good compared to the natural lighting provided by sunlight. However there are some new LED solutions that are making it much easier to have a beautiful installation without ... Read More
Christ Episcopal Church in Temple, Texas was built in 1915. There are so many things that have changed in our society in the past 100 to 150 years, it's surprising that in many ways, today's church is a lot like the place of worship in the 20th, or even the 19th Century. In some important ways, however, church design in the 21st Century can be radically different. While there has been a lot of ... Read More
Here's an interesting feature on the Museum of Divine Statues, a new establishment for preserving discarded liturgical objects. Among the many challenges posed by the closing of an old church or religious building is what happens to the sacred art or liturgical objects. They've been part of sacred rituals or prayers by generations of worshippers. They can't be tossed out or just sent to a yard ... Read More
We're pleased to announce that the Adoration Chapel stained glass windows designed by Ben Heimsath for Emmaus Catholic Church in Lakeway, Texas are featured in a great article in this month's Catholic Spirit. The monthly newspaper is published by the Diocese of Austin and features notable events and activities in the Central Texas region. The firm completed the new Parish Activity Center last ... Read More
In 1914, Austin built a city chapel for all faiths. This small structure, located in the city’s oldest cemetery, has the potential to be a one-of-a-kind landmark. In the United States, very few, if any, non-denominational chapels were built and owned by municipal governments. The Oakwood Cemetery Chapel is located in the center of the oldest cemetery in Austin, Texas. Both the Oakwood Cemetery ... Read More
Islesford, Maine on Little Cranberry Island is a beautiful place, but has very few frills. For the year-round residents and the summer regulars who join them, the essentials are all that count. There's the Neighborhood House that shares space with a public library and a one-room post-office that doubles as the island store. The one restaurant is seasonal, yet attracts a steady crowd of diners, ... Read More
Does the activity of worship transform a space? Yes, absolutely it does. Ceremonial elements or liturgical objects convey meaning even when no one is present. In most Christian faiths, the altar, pulpit, or baptismal font are the primary objects. One of these will generally become the liturgical focus. I visited the American Martyrs Catholic Church in Manhattan Beach, California and saw a great ... Read More
Here is the final installment of the Baptismal Font Article! Today we will look at codes and technical issues. CODE The code implication of a baptismal font (especially a full immersion font) can be very complicated depending on your jurisdiction. The fact that it is a religious object may help you escape some code implications, but keep in mind that the code regulations have thought and ... Read More
Here is Part 2 of 3 the the posts on Baptismal Font Design. Previously we looked at Type, today we look at Location. LOCATION One of the main determinations of location is the logistics of getting people to and from the font. Also, since baptism of a person is actually a community event, you need to make sure the congregation can see the ceremony (though you also need to consider what can be seen ... Read More
The following is part one of a three-part blog post on baptismal fonts wherein I will look at various technical and design issues. A companion blog post, written by Ben Heimsath, will delve more into the liturgical aspects of baptism and how they relate to the overall space. I truly enjoy designing religious spaces (churches, temples, worship spaces, sanctuaries, chapels, prayer spaces, etc.), as ... Read More
