Gothic Precedent and Modern Styles in Architecture

There have been many different styles of Christian Church Architecture/Design over the centuries in Western Europe (4th-21st c.) and North America (18th–21st c.). In the 20th century, the two following styles were popular with congregations in large Anglican Churches in Winnipeg:

GOTHIC PRECEDENT was used in the 1st half of the 20th century in Winnipeg architecture. Builders copied ideas and ornamentation from the Gothic Revival style of the 19th century, which in turn had copied the European Gothic Churches of the 12th–15th centuries. The style — Gothic Revival — was closely related in religion to the 19th century Oxford Movement and the Anglo-Catholic Movement in the Anglican Church, which sought to turn the rituals of the Church of England towards those of the early Church of Rome.

The Gothic Revival architectural features were copied in the Gothic Precedent style of the 20th century. Noticeable details of these 20th century Churches such as St. Luke’s Winnipeg, might include: a stone building, a bell tower, vertical buttresses on the exterior, pointed arches, tracery and stained glass with grisaille painting in the windows and small rectangular dark wood panels in the interior which often contained pointed arch and tracery carved decoration. A Rood screen would separate Chancel and Nave. Attempts were also made to plan the Church in the shape of a Latin Cross, to place the Altar to the East and to have the furnishings reflected the requirements of the Medieval religion. Many stone features were also copied in the interiors in wood at a much smaller scale (size) as decoration. Examples of this are see in carved wooden pointed arch and tracery decoration.

Some of the furniture in the present Church belongs to the first half of the 20th century. It was brought from the St. George’s Church built in 1927 and the Pulpit, Prayer Desks, Side Altar, and Litany Desk show this “Gothic” style influenced furniture decoration. This continued use of Gothic motifs also recalled the Anglo-Catholic influence and practices which still continued in the Anglican Church, in the 2nd half of the 20th century (and beyond). There are still many people in the Anglican Church in Canada who prefer (both in architecture and in religion) the Traditional approach:

The MODERN style was used in Winnipeg Architecture in the 2nd half of the 20th century, when Architects incorporated modern “International” ideas in the design of their buildings. The MODERN style in Architecture accommodates modern biblical scholarship that has resulted in a totally different attitude towards the Bible and a very different conception of Revelation starting with a better understanding of the events of the 1st century CE development of Christianity.

“By 1950 . . . . there was no University or College in England where the old view of the Bible was defended or accepted and only among a diminishing number of older Anglo-Catholics did it still survive”.

(EB. Vol.8, pg.472, 1959 – Encyclopaedia Britannica)

MODERN DESIGN in architecture means making use of contemporary knowledge and practices. The present St. George’s Church was built 1956-58 and Modern features in St. George’s Church include:

Both in Religion and in Architecture/Design
GIVE US WISDOM AND COURAGE

The unadorned CROSS continues to be the most prominent symbol at St. George’s Church.

THIS SYMBOL REMINDS US OF THE
OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD - THE HOLY SPIRIT.