A church for our times

People of faith have many things that trigger thoughts of God and their beliefs. It may be an incident in daily life or something beautiful in Nature. Regular readers of my articles will know that Art and Music frequently do this for me. So you will understand that following my recent prolonged illness, it was a great relief to re-start concerts and Gallery visits again. One of the first of these was a tour of the V and A led by our friend Chris.
He first took us to view the Raphael Cartoons, which immediately started me thinking about our Church life. They are painted on paper in somewhat muted and faded colours. Although they stand alone as works of art, they were intended as patterns for a series of tapestries to hang on the walls of the Sistine Chapel. Only a few of the set are on display but there is also a tapestry produced from one of the pictures. One immediately notes that the tapestry is not only a reversed mirror image but that the colours are much brighter and striking. They were intended to awe their viewers and show the power and wealth of the Church. The subject matter, based around the commissioning and deeds of the Apostles, emphasised the authority of the Church. Exactly what was needed for the mainly illiterate audience of their day.
It struck me that if we want to reach people in today’s media-overloaded society, then we need to find more vibrant and vivid ways to express our message. Too often the modern Church appears dull, colourless and even timid and apologetic. Alternatively,those elements of the Church which are more vocal, often appear to lack reality. We need to provide the common sense and practical but with power and authority.
Being relevant to today’s society was again the theme when Chris led us to look at a group of Hogarth cartoons. Hogarth had a strong social conscience and did not hold back when he used earthy humour to demonstrate the ills of his time. He also did something practical about them as a governor of The Foundling Hospital. We can be too genteel and understated in our comments on today’s problems. If anyone should be giving clear guidance in times of greed, selfishness and moral turpitude, it is the Church.
Lastly, Chris took us to the English Art Galleries and to a room where a row of Constables hang opposite a line of Turners. You could not find greater contrast. Constable`s gentle working landscapes set beneath vast East Anglian skies.Turner`s exciting pictures, full of wonderful colour, dramatic lighting and energy. Yet it is not only their Art that contrasts but the men themselves. Both were born in the same year. Turner was quickly accepted by the Art establishment and was elected to the Royal Academy seventeen years before Constable. Constable carried on learning his craft and in the next room is a large collection of his studies and sketches. A plough, some clouds, a horse and cart and so many more. Eventually, he was accepted and today is one of Britain’s best loved and recognised painters. Turner, on the other hand, was ahead of public opinion, became too impressionistic for the establishment and in later life was rejected by them.
In the Church we have a vast range of contrasting styles and opinions and would be greatly the poorer without this rich variety.However, different types and styles are more relevant at different points in history. As I stated earlier, at a time when the World is wracked by enormous problems we need a dynamic response. Unfortunatley, too often we resemble the gentle, nostalgic, acceptable Constables. Maybe it is time for the Church to adopt Turner's model and start proclaiming in broad, vivid brush strokes.Less concerned with the sometimes irrelevant minute detail and more with the overall impression of a relevant Church and Living Lord.