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THE ARCHITECTURE OF LITURGY: LITURGICAL ORDERING IN CHURCH DESIGN; THE AUSTRALIAN EXPER IENCE IN PERSPECTIVE Stephen Paul Hackett A t hesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of the Built Environment The University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia 2011 Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Sumame or Family name: Hackett First name: Stephen Other name/s: Paul Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: Built Environment Faculty: Built Environment Title: The Architecture of Liturgy: Liturgical Ordering in Church Design; the Australian Experience in Perspective Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) 'Liturgical ordering' denotes the spatial arrangement of churches for celebration of Christian liturgy. Its evolution from the earliest of known church structures can be described In five epochs, the last of which continues to emerge. This evolutlon reveals liturgy as being the abiding and indispensable design determinant for churches. Among the constitutive elements or church architecture. liturgical ordering has received little scholarly attenllon. The Architecture of Liturgy: Uturgical Ordering In Church Design; the Australian Experience In Perspective sets out to remedy this. examining the development of liturgical ordering In Catholic churches during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Inspired by the liturgical movement, these orderings gained prominence following Vatican Council II. 1962-1965, which enjoined that churches be built for the sacred murgy and the active participation of the faithful. The Implementation of this imperative brought about widespread lnnovallon In church design, most significantly through new and adapted liturgical orderings. mari<lng a major shift after centuries or standardised ordering In churches. The thesis proposes that liturgy and liturgical ordering naturally and logically cohere. It argues that historically there have been two Instances of fundamental reorientation in liturgical ordering, the first culminating In the high Middle Ages and the second, setting right the first, In the current epoch. By evaluating contemporary liturgical orderings it seeks to identify the Ideal or preferred liturgical ordering for contemporary Catholic churches. Chapter One outlines this under1aklng and Chapter Two details \he research methods employed. Chapter Three traces the evolution or liturgical ordering to the mid-twentieth century and identifies its salient characteristics. From this threshold Chapter Four examines the new and adapted orderings of the pre- and postconciliar decades. Contemporary discourse about liturgical ordering tends to be structured In typologies. These are critiqued In Chapter Five. which concludes by setting out six types or liturgical ordering representative ol postconciliar Australian Catholic churches. Chapter Six evaluates these orderings In case studies of six such churches. The conclusion In Chapter Seven situates the present status of liturgical ordering in Its evolutionary context and proposes a particular U-arrayed setting as the Ideal ordering ·ror the time being'. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to \he University of New South Wales or Its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation In whole or In part In the University libraries in all forms of media. now or here after known, subject to \he provisions or the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights. such as patent rights. I also retain \he right to use In lulure works (such as articles or books) all or part or this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dlsser1atlon Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral thy 4#~ ············ · ········ · ···· · · ······· · ··· ~···········•··· ..... ":"~::"~~ The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made In writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered In exceptional circumstances and require the approval or the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date or completion or requirements ror Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS ABSTRACT ‘Liturgical ordering’ denotes the spatial arrangement of churches for celebration of Christian liturgy. Its evolution from the earliest of known church structures can be described in five epochs, the last of which continues to emerge. This evolution reveals liturgy as being the abiding and indispensable design determinant for churches. Among the constitutive elements of church architecture, liturgical ordering has received little scholarly attention. The architecture of liturgy: liturgical ordering in church design; the Australian experience in perspective sets out to remedy this, examining the development of liturgical ordering in Catholic churches during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Inspired by the liturgical movement, these orderings gained prominence following Vatican Council II, 1962-1965, which enjoined that churches be built for the sacred liturgy and the active participation of the faithful. The implementation of this imperative brought about widespread innovation in church design, most significantly through new and adapted liturgical orderings, marking a major shift after centuries of standardised ordering in churches. The thesis proposes that liturgy and liturgical ordering naturally and logically cohere. It argues that historically there have been two instances of fundamental reorientation in liturgical ordering, the first culminating in the high middle ages and the second, setting right the first, in the current epoch. By evaluating contemporary liturgical orderings it seeks to identify the ideal or preferred liturgical ordering for contemporary Catholic churches. Chapter One outlines this undertaking and Chapter Two details the research methods employed. Chapter Three traces the evolution of liturgical ordering to the mid- twentieth century and identifies its salient characteristics. From this threshold Chapter Four examines the new and adapted orderings of the pre- and postconciliar decades. i Contemporary discourse about liturgical ordering tends to be structured in typologies. These are critiqued in Chapter Five, which concludes by setting out six types of liturgical ordering representative of postconciliar Australian Catholic churches. Chapter Six evaluates these orderings in case studies of six such churches. The conclusion in Chapter Seven situates the present status of liturgical ordering in its evolutionary context and proposes a particular U-arrayed setting as the ideal ordering ‘for the time being’. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Two fields of human endeavour meet in this thesis: architecture and liturgy. When fulfilling their quintessential purpose, architecture and liturgy attune us to the sacred. Each in its own way draws us beyond the mundane into an experience of beauty and mystery beyond words. Brought together in the church design process, architecture and liturgy create places that animate the Church’s worship of God ‘in spirit and in truth’. Architecture and liturgy have long excited my interest. It was a happy outcome of serving in the Religious Centre of the University of New South Wales that first afforded me the opportunity to pursue a research project which brought architecture and liturgy together. Now this project has come to fruition and there are many people to thank. I thank the academic and administrative personnel in the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of New South Wales who have had some part in my enrolment and studies. I am most grateful to Professor Michael Tawa who first directed my research. I am indebted to Professor Jon Lang who has seen this thesis through to completion. His knowledge and guidance, imparted with patience, has assisted me at every stage of the research and writing process. His counsel regarding the presentation of text and images in the thesis has been extensive and precise. I am also indebted to Mr Harry Stephens, who has accompanied this project from its inception. His wisdom has been generously shared and his support unwavering. I thank the architects and clergy who granted interviews, provided church plans and facilitated access to churches, particularly Mgr Kerry Bayada, Bishop Terence Brady, Mr Gregory Burgess, Mr Keith Cottier, Fr Neville Drinkwater, Professor Romaldo Giurgola, Fr John Hill, Mr Graeme Law, Mr Randall Lindstrom, Fr Brian O’Sullivan CM and Fr Peter Sherman. Their expertise and insights, and the data they provided, have proved especially beneficial. iii I thank those who have so generously given practical assistance in the preparation of this thesis. Mr Andy McCracken applied his draftsman’s skill to hand-draw illustrations for the latter chapters. Fr Malcolm Fyfe MSC and Fr Eugenio Zurias-Diaz brought their linguistic knowledge to matters of translation. Ms Sarah Bell, Rev Dr Brian Boyle, Dr William Griffiths, Rev Dr Peter Malone MSC, Fr Michael Moore SM, Rev Dr David Orr OSB and Fr Kevin Taylor accessed resources on my behalf. Mr Neville Hackett, Mr Harry Stephens and Br John Walker MSC photographed churches for the penultimate chapter. Dr Rachele Tullio read and commented upon the final draft of the thesis. I thank my confreres in the Australian Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred
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