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Views from the Choir Loft

This Is a Cathedral, Not Disneyland

Fr. David Friel · September 15, 2019

ORE THAN one medieval English cathedral hosted an unconventional exhibit this summer. Three sacred spaces, all of them in the hands of the Church of England, were transformed by particularly peculiar amusements.

Rochester Cathedral gave over the floor of its nave to a nine-hole course for miniature golf (or “crazy golf,” as it is commonly called in the UK). The BBC reported on this attraction in July.

In Norwich Cathedral, the rear of the nave became the site of a 55-foot helter-skelter (a slide that spirals down the exterior of a large tower). The BBC ran a story on this display in August.

The floor of the nave in Lichfield Cathedral was refashioned to resemble the surface of the moon, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. According to the description on the church’s website, the One Small Step installation “allows us to contemplate and observe one of the most significant journeys that humanity has taken and allows us to imagine possibilities for humankind.”

Amusements_Rochester Amusements_Norwich Amusements_Lichfield

Arguments in favor of these displays and in opposition to them made their way into a piece in the New York Times last month.

Another story describes how one man’s opposition prompted him to unleash a rant, during which he observed that cathedrals should not be managed as though they were Disneyland.

As noted above, these three spectacles were on display in cathedrals of the Church of England. Such capering, however, is not entirely unknown in Catholic churches (e.g., the light show in residence at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal). Contrary to what their organizers might argue, these frivolities do little to attract new disciples of Christ, while doing much to cheapen our Christian heritage and to obliterate the reverence that is God’s due.

The exploitation of these sacred spaces for such profane purposes is quite a tangible manifestation of the death of Christianity as the life principle of Western culture.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sacred Architecture Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Jeffrey Tucker: “What are your thoughts on what passes for sacred music in most Catholic parishes today?” Richard Morris: “There’s nothing sacred about it. The tunes, rhythms, and messages are drawn mainly from secular culture. When it isn’t aesthetically repugnant and downright offensive to the Faith, it is utterly forgettable.”

— James Richard Morris (concert organist)

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