Worship Space Survey Results

2013 December 2
by First U Bklyn

Visually Inspiring?  Dark and Somber?  Not UU?

In early 2013, the Welcoming Sanctuary Task Force (WSTF) conducted a worship space survey.  The analysis of the responses showed strong agreement on several key points:

Our sanctuary:

  • is visually inspiring and spacious
  • has beautiful Tiffany stained glass windows

Yet:

  • is too dark and somber
  • lacks Unitarian Universalist symbols
  • is in a state of disrepair and is often dirty

 

Some History

The sanctuary has changed substantially over the years.  Originally all of the sanctuary windows were clear glass and the sanctuary had a “light, airy, open feeling”.  The Tiffany windows were installed in honor of the building’s 50th anniversary 1894-1909.  The Great Front Rose Window was installed in 1914 in honor of the building’s 70th anniversary.  Then in 1917, chandeliers were installed to compensate for the obstructed sunlight.  The uppermost windows were originally framed cloth shades, after that a combination of colored and ground glass, and then in 1912 painted and stippled English cathedral glass (same as the diamond pane windows above the stairs to the balcony).  The “Unitarian Saints” portrait windows were installed starting in 1929 and continuing through 1957.  The Beatitudes Window over the pulpit was installed in 1946.

This image compares the light in the sanctuary before and after stained glass windows were installed. (Click to enlarge)

 

Ideas

WSTF has several ideas for addressing the drawbacks identified through the survey:

Repair the broken hymnal racks, pews and communion cup holders.

Improve the artificial lighting in the side aisles.

Add light-colored, UU artwork to the wall space flanking the pulpit and/or to the balconies.

Reintroduce sunlight by replacing the uppermost windows with light-colored or frosted glass. (And possibly re-display the Unitarian portraits to be more visible, possibly opposite the Angel Mosaic.)

Replace Beatitudes window with light-colored glass, possibly with UU image.

 

Next Steps

WSTF is researching all the above ideas for making the sanctuary more welcoming and will prepare feasibility reports for the board as soon as possible.

Welcoming Sanctuary Task Force: Nancy Witherell – Chair, Edwin Lord, Lee Pardee, Cooper Richey-Miller.  Survey Analyst – Sean Fischer.  For a copy of the fully survey report, click here: Space survey report 6-25-13 or speak to a member of WSTF.

 

from → Groups and Committees, Welcoming Sanctuary Task Force