barrington presbyterian church

400 County Road Barrington, RI 02806 401.245.2218

on the design of our church MercaDee Clifton February 2003 In building this chapel I wished to create a place of silence, of prayer, of peace, of spiritual joy. A sense of what was sacred inspired our efforts. – Le Corbusier, 1955 When the Barrington Presbyterian Church was first formed, the congregation met at St. Andrews School. They planned to build a church on Middle Highway. Instead, they took advantage of an opportunity to purchase our current property, on County Road in Barrington, which was then owned by the local Christian Science Church. They then faced the challenge of turning the existing structure, a cinderblock building, into an attractive house of worship for a newly gathered Christian community. Fortunately, the new congregation had Georgia Boomer among its Charter Members. A talented and experienced designer, graduate of Pratt, and member of ASID, Georgia was familiar with the design of churches. She accepted the challenge, without fee, and poured her creative energies into the sanctuary that we are privileged to have as our place for public worship.  The design is contemporary – in the spirit of the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. The lattice work, shown in the sketch above, articulates the theme of the contemporary design. (This lattice work was difficult to maintain and was later removed.) Georgia designed the stainless steel cross as the dominant symbol in identifying the building as a Christian church. Wright designed his buildings to harmonize with the land and the environment around them. He used a lot of glass with views of nature. He tried to bring the outside in. These concepts are reflected in the design of our sanctuary. As one worships, one's thoughts are drawn upward by the constantly changing view of nature – sky, trees, a flying seagull – as well as changing patterns of light. In the sanctuary, Georgia began by fashioning a suspended cross, surrounded by sky and trees.  Bringing nature into the center of worship reminds us of the marvel of creation and provides a peaceful setting for reflection, praise, and thanksgiving.   She modified a table by adding stainless steel bars to form a visual tie with the cross and its stainless steel trim. Originally, the carpet was blue to harmonize with the cross, as well as with the wall hanging and the baptismal fount. The exterior doors were  painted a pale aqua blue to create a harmonious flow from the entrance to the sanctuary. The photo shows asymmetrical or informal balance. All chairs except the armchair are placed to the right of the cross with only the armchair behind the pulpit. This arrangement exposes and emphasizes the cross. The chalice placed to the left of the communion table is a constant reminder of the sacrament of communion. The candlesticks, chalice, and vase were purchased at Crossed Sabers – an establishment owned by George and Phyllis Saber, who were also charter members of the church. The candlesticks are rarely used because of the large pillar candle required. In the original design, formal balance, in which the armchair is placed in the middle and two chairs are placed on each side, was used for communion only. Georgia designed the wall hanging next to the pulpit. It was sewn by Georgiana Bittinger Rudisill, an art graduate of Carnegie Tech and mother of Anne Graybill – wife of Dr. John Graybill, the organizing pastor. The pulpit Bible was given by Ellis Scripture. Georgia designed the baptismal fount in marble with inlaid fish, harmonizing with the fish in the wall hanging behind. She designed and carved the beautiful pulpit that graces the chancel.  At its center is again the cross. In the top two quadrants are flames of fire and the dove – both representing the Holy Spirit. At lower left is a symbol representing the resurrection, with Greek letters for the words "Jesus Christ, Conqueror." At lower right are the Greek letters alpha and omega, used to indicate that Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end of all things. For the side of the chancel adjacent to the organ, Georgia designed the rail that repeats the cross, in proportions similar to those used in the suspended cross, on the pulpit, and in the wall hanging.   The photo opposite shows the overall harmony of the design, with the eye moving from the cross in the Graybill hanging, to the cross on the hand-carved pulpit, to the suspended cross, to the rail of crosses around the choir loft. It is a gentle, subdued, and worshipful setting. At the rear of the sanctuary is the acrylic window The Crown of Thorns, designed by Georgia and built by a group of church members in Carl and Ruth Burling's basement. Georgia described it to the congregation by saying, "He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and this is his crown of thorns"! It makes me think of the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus. The glass doors at the rear of the sanctuary were originally painted with delicate white crosses and three doves. These paintings have mostly been lost due to breakage. Architecture, church architecture, describes visually the idea of the sacred, which is a fundamental need of man. Mankind has been capable of creating for itself this very particular kind of space. There is great mystery in a church. For me it is a great privilege to be confronted with the design of a church, because it shelters the most powerful themes of humanity: birth, marriage, death. – Mario Botta, 1943- Like the great churches of the world, the sanctuary of Barrington Presbyterian Church shares the basic principles of good design: harmony, balance, proportion, rhythm, color. These principles create a restful setting that encourages meditation and worship.  Our church has a beautifully designed sanctuary. Its materials and construction are inexpensive, but its simplicity and harmony are elegant and lovely. My hope is that we might have a better understanding and appreciation of the design so that we will be able to give it the care and respect that are required to realize its full potential. Make for me a sanctuary, and I shall dwell among them. – Exodus 25:8