If you have ever read my profile, you might have noticed that I am a self-proclaimed church architecture aficionado. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Georgia.
The sanctuary of Independent Presbyterian is remarkable to me because it is living proof that the characteristics of simplicity and even austerity need not necessarily excise deep beauty from architecture. Presbyterian and Reformed churches have historically insisted on not creating buildings for worship that are too lavish or ornate, because they did not want the building itself to steal attention from God during a worship service. If you notice, the most eye-catching piece in the building is the pulpit, which serves to draw one’s attention to the primacy of The Word of God (i.e. the Bible) in proper worship. Reformed worship and beauty is not an oxymoron!
Perhaps the most intriguing tidbit here is that unlike the vast majority of large, historic churches (especially Presbyterian ones in the US), Independent has not succumbed to liberal theology, but continues to teach the Biblical gospel. I have written this post is because I want to applaud and honor any work of art that is distinctly Christian yet powerfully beautiful. Our response to the Gospel demands nothing less!
is the pulpit that 20-foot brown thing in the center?
yep. The minister stands at the top of it.