Issue 42 summer 24 web - Flipbook - Page 116
The Equilibrium between
Conservation and Spirituality
A series of four illustrated articles by Jonathan Louth with textual contributions from articles
by Julian Filochowski
Article Two – In my Father’s House are many mansions: conserving spirituality in a busy space
ages or territories, who relate to a diverse community of
worshippers - Irish, Latin/Central American, and so forth.
Abstract
Drawing on the inspiration of Jesus’s words to his
disciples,1 “In my Father’s House are many mansions”,
this series explores “conserving spiritual places through
the saints and relics”, which have specific meanings for
differing communities of worshippers and pilgrims.
A Societal place at the West end displaying notices,
historical information, religious merchandise, and commemorating the cathedral’s clergy.
These three ecclesiastical zones encircle a Worship space,
east of a Transitional crossing, focused on the main Altar.
Jonathan Louth, architect to the Roman Catholic
Metropolitan Cathedral of St George at Southwark from
2003 to 2024, considers here the significance of terrestrial
mansions, ecclesiastical shrines for saints in the ordering
and conservation of the great churches.
The choir and organ occupy the Retro-choir in this plan:
in compensation, the ‘Shrine’ is transferred to the Lady
chapel, in the south-eastern quadrant. Ensuring an
equilibrium between conservation and spirituality by
respecting the spiritual plan is a key role for the
Cathedral’s advisors and architect. 3
This second article focuses on the original chapels and
shrines at St George’s where the Deans and Fabric
Advisory Committee members have progressively defined
a sub-division of sacramental and devotional zones. Thus
Louth describes how decisions have been taken in the
21st Century to introduce or reorder twelve points of
special intention, speaking outwardly to a new diversity
of global cultures which increasingly populates London.
Particular attention will be paid to Jonathan Louth’s
installations for the modern shrine of Mother Cabrini by
Theodore Gillick, and for St John the Evangelist.
Above, plan of St George’s cathedral in 2024: the shrine
interventions under Archbishop John Wilson on closure of the
Seminary in blue
Above, key plan showing the current interpretation of a ‘spiritual
plan’ for the cathedral
Liturgical ordering
Our main context for inserting additional shrines or icons
is a definition of liturgical zones in St George’s cathedral,
a ‘spiritual plan’ identified by Canon James Cronin in
2011:2
A Sacramental space in the North aisle, honouring saints
and bishops who have trodden the floor of the cathedral;
Mother Cabrini
What I mean by “conserving spiritual places through the
saints and relics” is illustrated by Theodore Gillick’s work4
in 2009 for Mother Francesca Cabrini who had visited
the cathedral on her way from Rome to America.
Cabrini’s place in the sacramental aisle as patron saint of
migrants was championed by her Missionary Sisters of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom I forged a locus out of a
tiny cupboard.
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A Devotional space in the South aisle, for chapels and statues dedicated to bishops, saints, and martyrs from other
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
114
