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Description
Dr. Gilbert Cope does not consider the forms of religious architect architecture as such. He considers how people regard their holy places, which may in fact be reflected in those forms. It is vir...tually only believers who revere places, but Dr. Cope presents two which are 'holy' for non-religious reasons. Specially 'holy' places (e.g. the Dome of the Rock) are never universally revered, and they can change their significance over the years. The second type of sacred site is the meeting house (e.g. the Quaker Meeting House) but few religious groups would not accept that both main types of religious buildings are not only afforded special reverence to a greater or lesser degree, but also act as social centres. Only in a few "extreme'" cases (Chantry Chapel, Friends' Meeting House) is this not so. His discussion is illustrated with film inserts of many diverse places of worship.
Dr. Gilbert Cope does not consider the forms of religious architect architecture as such. He considers how people regard their holy places, which may in fact be reflected in those forms. It is vir...tually only believers who revere places, but Dr. Cope presents two which are 'holy' for non-religious reasons. Specially 'holy' places (e.g. the Dome of the Rock) are never universally revered, and they can change their significance over the years. The second type of sacred site is the meeting house (e.g. the Quaker Meeting House) but few religious groups would not accept that both main types of religious buildings are not only afforded special reverence to a greater or lesser degree, but also act as social centres. Only in a few "extreme'" cases (Chantry Chapel, Friends' Meeting House) is this not so. His discussion is illustrated with film inserts of many diverse places of worship.
| Module code and title: | A101, An arts foundation course |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A101; 19 |
| First transmission date: | 25-06-1978 |
| Published: | 1978 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:23:45 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Edward Hayward |
| Contributor: | Gilbert Cope |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Archbishop Makarios; Architecture; Bath Abbey; Beauchamp Chapel; Churches; Dome of the Rock; Gargoyles; Religion; Sikh wedding |
| Footage description: | The programme opens with brief shots of four very different religious buildings. Gilbert Cope, former deputy Director of University of Birmingham Liturgical Centre, explains that the programme will consider people's attitudes to religious places. He briefly refers to Shakespeare's birthplace and Lenin's tomb (film of both) but concludes that most venerated places are religious. Over shots of a carving of Jacob's Ladder at Bath Abbey he describes the nature of devotion to a holy place. Film of Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock, which Cope explains has been venerated by three different religions. Cope defines two kinds of holy place: shrines and regular gathering places. Film of Quaker Meeting House and a Buddhist temple of Pilgrimage illustrate his remarks. He uses Beauchamp Chapel as another example of a holy place not used on a regular- basis. Cope describes the dedication of Catholic churches. Film of a Sikh temple in Birmingham which is described by Cope. Short clips of a synagogue and a Christian service, to indicate how these religions show respect during services. Film of gargoyles and other details on an English church, over which Cope comments on the function of decorative effects. Film showing decorative patterns in a mosque, with commentary over. Sequence showing the veneration of ornate scrolls in a synagogue. Cope explains what is happening. Cope explains that religious buildings have a social significance. As an example, he comments on film of Archbishop Makarios speaking about the political situation in Cyprus in 1977 from a Greek Orthodox church in London. Other film extracts show young Muslims learning the Koran in a Birmingham mosque and texts being sung at an Orthodox Jewish service. Finally there is footage of a Sikh wedding in a Birmingham temple, with explanatory comments from Cope. Film of a new Anglican church in Hodge Hill which acts as both church and community centre. Cope points out features of the church, which is then seen being formally dedicated. He explains thereligious idea behind the dual function of the building. Cope concludes the programme from the studio with some remarks about whether churches ought to assume multi-purpose functions, as at Hodge Hill. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72657 |
| Production number: | 00525_3247 |
| Videofinder number: | 2609 |
| Available to public: | no |
