Putting for Transcendence?

Our niece, Alexandra, is married to John, one of the Abrams Brothers band members who were recently on tour in Great Britain. I'm actually in one of their music videos, playing a minister, of all things. http://www.theabramsmusic.com/

One of the venues on their tour was Rochester Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Britain, and while this was a secular concert they were very impressed by the hospitality of those who oriented to them to the space and assisted them as they set up. 

Lots of churches make their sanctuaries available for other purposes now, and I've served a couple of congregations which have done so. In Halifax it became an issue because the number of concerts, most requiring a rehearsal as well, meant that this beautiful worship space was often unavailable for congregational purposes.

Alexandra sent a link to news that Rochester Cathedral is currently using the sanctuary for mini-put golf, as you see above, inviting the public in at no charge. I have to admit, at first blush this sounded over the top to me, although I'm not sure why. There was been considerable push back on this, but a church representative responded this way in an interview:

“We hope that when people come in, they will know that they’re welcome and they will have an enjoyable experience,” Rachel Phillips, canon for “mission and growth” at the cathedral, told Premier, a Christian radio station.“So while people are here, having fun and playing crazy golf, they will take the opportunity to reflect on that wider theme of building bridges, that they might find that they would like to pray, light a candle. Maybe talk to somebody.”

Hmm. I can't recall anyone praying while playing mini-golf, unless you count invoking Jesus' name after a missed shot. How is this different though than a country-rock concert, or a wedding where the gathered have no interest in God, for that matter? 

A journalist Tim Stanley,  said:

 “Cathedrals were designed precisely to remind you of your place in this celestial order, to make you feel small, to awe you into belief. When you stick a mini golf course in a cathedral, it doesn’t bring the community closer so much as it strips the building of its original intent and pushes God further away. It is an act of desecration.”

Ouch, Well, the putting will cease at the end of the month, to be replaced by a sculpture called The Knife Angel which has been created from over 100,000 blunted and seized blades. This monument against violence and aggression will be the focal point for 28 days of education, reflection, remembrance and prayer. I think the sculpture is powerful and thought-provoking but I can imagine that lots of people will be offended by it as well.

Where do I stand on this? I honestly can't make up my mind. What do you think? 



The Knife Angel