Re: Re: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches

Here is the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58086761@N00/

The state of Giacomo della Porta’s altar is worse than I imagined. I cannot imagine that the present incumbent in Cashel was in his right senses when he agreed to this vandalism – it is just incredible that this should happen to one of the few important renaissance pieces in Ireland. Can anyone imagine anyone splitting the Piet&#224]

Thanks, Ake and Prax.

In absolute agreement with Prax on the vandalism at Thurles.

The selection of colours for the interior of a church is of far more importance than is generally acknowledged today in the Age of Hooper. This applies as much to the stained glass windows as to the walls in the sanctuary, the nave, and the various lateral and perambulatory chapels. In North America, the additional scourge of (wall-to-wall) carpets not only ruined acoustics but assaulted congregations with the most appalling colours. Moreover, from the perspective of simple hygiene, they are a catch-all of the most disgusting germs and contagions.

I could not help but notice that in some of the tastefully decorated churches, like Sts Augustine and John, the statuary included plaster-cast examples, This is unfortunate. Statues carved of limewood or oak and painted or polychromed according to medieval colour-schemes would enhance the overall effect, particularly in those churches of the Gothic Revival period.

Take a look, for example, at the work of Sir Ninian Comper in Downside Abbey, Somerset, England, which houses the body of the great Irish Martyr, St Oliver Plunkett.