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Christ Church

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Christ Church Mosaic Ceiling
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Christ Church Mosaic Ceiling

ChristChurchUnitedMethodistceilingmosiac

  • Christ Church Nave, Apse, and Altar <br><br> Christ Church is a Methodist church at 60th and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The predecessor church was the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, which began in 1881. The congregation expanded and the original building at 60th and Madison Avenue was inadequate to meet the growing needs. A larger building was needed and leadership purchased land in the current location in 1929 on the eve of the stock market crash. Noted architect Ralph Adams Cram was hired to design the new church. <br><br> Cram was an influential and prolific architect in the Gothic style, focusing on houses of worship and collegiate buildings. His works include: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Rice University, Princeton University, University of Richmond, Phillips Exeter Academy, The Choate School, McCormack Post Office and Courthouse in Boston, Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, Saint James’ Church, and Saint Thomas Church. He was the supervising architect at Princeton University for over 20 years and the head of the Architectural Department at MIT. He was on the cover of Time Magazine in 1926. <br><br> Cram specialized in the Gothic Revival style; however, the Christ Church site was too small for this design, with spires and flying buttresses. Instead, he selected the Romanesque style, which dominated Europe and the Byzantine Empire from the fourth century to the 11th century. This style is typified by the many rounded arches and the barrel vault of the nave. There is no transept or crossing and hence, no dome. Instead, the barrel vault comes straight into the apse, which is the main focus of the church, according to “A Tour of Christ Church.” The cornerstone was laid in 1931 and services began in 1933 while the interior was being completed. Work on the mosaics, designed by the firm Cram and Ferguson, stopped in 1940 with the outbreak of World War II as shipments of material from Italy ceased. Work on the mosaics resumed in 1948 under the services of Bruno de Paoli and his firm of mosaic craftsmen in Long Island City. Many of the workers were from Italy. The mosaics were completed in 1949. There are seven million tesserae in the church. Tesserae are cubes of glass or vitreous enamel set in mastic or cement at uneven angles so that they reflect the light in a sparkling manner. <br><br> Christ Church was known throughout the U.S. as the home of the National Radio Pulpit, featuring Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Stockman on NBC Radio from 1928 to 1962. He was associated with the church from 1911 to 1961 according to <a href="http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/ChristMethodist.html"> NYCAGO.</a> <br><br> I obtained information on the church from NYCAGO and a church publication, “A Tour of Christ Church.”
  • Christ Church Apse and Nave<br /> <br /> From "A Tour of Christ Church:"<br /> <br /> "The apse is decorated with mosaics, which are formed from tesserae. Tesserae are cubes of glass or vitreous enamel set in mastic or cement at uneven angles so that they reflect the light in a sparkling manner. There are said to be seven million tesserae in Christ Church. One’s eye is drawn to the figure of Christ in the apse, and the use of gold leaf for the background adds richness and depth. This representation is known as Christ Pantocratur. Pantocratur is a Greek word meaning “all powerful” and representations of Christ Pantocratur are widely used in Eastern Orthodox churches. Christ is portrayed as King and He is clad in the robes of a Byzantine Emperor. The bands on His shoulders are part of the imperial insignia and He is seated on the imperial throne. His right hand is raised in blessing – the Eastern style of blessing is used – and His left hand holds the Gospel of St. John, open at the text “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). On either side of His head are the letters IC_XC_ transliterated from the Greek, and this is an abbreviation for Jesus Christ. The surrounding tesserae are cunningly set so that the figure of Christ is bathed in light.<br /> <br /> Immediately below the figure of Christ is a curved band of blue with gold lettering. The text is from Matthew 22:27 and 39, and reads “Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”<br /> <br /> Surrounding the apse is a semi-circular band with seven medallions, each showing a figure holding a shield. This is a rather idiosyncratic interpretation of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the symbols on the shields, reading from left to right are: the Sun for understanding, a Book for counsel, a Lion for fortitude, a Dove for wisdom, a Lamp for knowledge, a Cross for piety and a Crown for spiritual reward. <br /> Below this band on the left is the figure of John the Baptist who is pointing towards Christ, symbolizing the New Covenant, and over his head is the text “Let not your heart be troubled.” On the right is Moses, symbolizing the Old Covenant, and above his head is the text “Wait on the Lord Be of Good Courage.” In an Eastern Orthodox church, one would normally see the Virgin Mary rather than Moses, but Moses was deemed more suitable for a Methodist church. Between the figures of John the Baptist and Moses, around the curve of the apse, are the figures of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John."
  • Christ Church Apse and Nave<br /> <br /> From "A Tour of Christ Church:"<br /> <br /> "The apse is decorated with mosaics, which are formed from tesserae. Tesserae are cubes of glass or vitreous enamel set in mastic or cement at uneven angles so that they reflect the light in a sparkling manner. There are said to be seven million tesserae in Christ Church. One’s eye is drawn to the figure of Christ in the apse, and the use of gold leaf for the background adds richness and depth. This representation is known as Christ Pantocratur. Pantocratur is a Greek word meaning “all powerful” and representations of Christ Pantocratur are widely used in Eastern Orthodox churches. Christ is portrayed as King and He is clad in the robes of a Byzantine Emperor. The bands on His shoulders are part of the imperial insignia and He is seated on the imperial throne. His right hand is raised in blessing – the Eastern style of blessing is used – and His left hand holds the Gospel of St. John, open at the text “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). On either side of His head are the letters IC_XC_ transliterated from the Greek, and this is an abbreviation for Jesus Christ. The surrounding tesserae are cunningly set so that the figure of Christ is bathed in light."
  • Christ Church Apse and Nave<br /> <br /> From "A Tour of Christ Church:"<br /> <br /> "The apse is decorated with mosaics, which are formed from tesserae. Tesserae are cubes of glass or vitreous enamel set in mastic or cement at uneven angles so that they reflect the light in a sparkling manner. There are said to be seven million tesserae in Christ Church. One’s eye is drawn to the figure of Christ in the apse, and the use of gold leaf for the background adds richness and depth. This representation is known as Christ Pantocratur. Pantocratur is a Greek word meaning “all powerful” and representations of Christ Pantocratur are widely used in Eastern Orthodox churches. Christ is portrayed as King and He is clad in the robes of a Byzantine Emperor. The bands on His shoulders are part of the imperial insignia and He is seated on the imperial throne. His right hand is raised in blessing – the Eastern style of blessing is used – and His left hand holds the Gospel of St. John, open at the text “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). On either side of His head are the letters IC_XC_ transliterated from the Greek, and this is an abbreviation for Jesus Christ. The surrounding tesserae are cunningly set so that the figure of Christ is bathed in light.<br /> <br /> Immediately below the figure of Christ is a curved band of blue with gold lettering. The text is from Matthew 22:27 and 39, and reads “Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”<br /> <br /> Surrounding the apse is a semi-circular band with seven medallions, each showing a figure holding a shield. This is a rather idiosyncratic interpretation of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the symbols on the shields, reading from left to right are: the Sun for understanding, a Book for counsel, a Lion for fortitude, a Dove for wisdom, a Lamp for knowledge, a Cross for piety and a Crown for spiritual reward. <br /> Below this band on the left is the figure of John the Baptist who is pointing towards Christ, symbolizing the New Covenant, and over his head is the text “Let not your heart be troubled.” On the right is Moses, symbolizing the Old Covenant, and above his head is the text “Wait on the Lord Be of Good Courage.” In an Eastern Orthodox church, one would normally see the Virgin Mary rather than Moses, but Moses was deemed more suitable for a Methodist church. Between the figures of John the Baptist and Moses, around the curve of the apse, are the figures of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John."
  • Christ Church Altar<br /> <br /> From "A Tour of Christ Church:"<br /> <br /> "The golden screen was designed for the space by Dr. Cram… In a typical Orthodox church the screen is in front of the altar, and separates the congregation from this holy table. Only priests in vestments approach the altar, frequently through a screen having a pair of doors in the center. Imagine that the screen you are looking at is in front of the altar and comes to ground level instead of finishing at waist height. In our screen, in the center, there is a small pair of doors. Originally, they would have been part of a larger structure in front of an altar and a priest would have passed through them. The doors are called “Royal Doors” because Christ the King in the form of the Eucharist is passed through them, carried by the priest. These particular doors date from about 1660, they are Russian and formed part of the collection of the last czar, Nicolas II. The six icons in the doors are considered fine quality and have not been repainted. The six icons shows Annunciation. The four below are of the four Evangelists. Each of the Evangelists is shown with his symbol, which appears, in the red ogee at the top of the icon. At top left is St. Mark. His symbol in the red ogee is the winged lion. The other person in the picture is St. Peter-traditionally Peter told his story to Mark. At the top right is St. Matthew, with his symbol of the winged angel, at bottom right is St. John with his eagle, and bottom left is St. Luke with his bull. The source of this iconography is the Book of Revelation. <br /> <br /> Just above the altar is a set of six small icons depicting eastern saints. They are 16th Century, and also from the collection of Nicolas II. Originally, this group would have been part of an iconostasis-an Eastern Orthodox choir screen built to hold such icons. <br /> <br /> The altar itself is of Spanish marble. There are 34 different kinds of marble in Christ Church, adding to its richness and beauty. The marble panels are cleverly cut so the natural striations form matching and harmonious designs. Turning and looking to the sides of the nave, one sees four columns of purple Levanto marble, quarried near Turin, Italy. The striking, winding, lighter veins may be meant to remind us of the flogging of Christ. The capital of these columns are carved acanthus leaves, typical of the Byzantine style. The piers which alternate with the columns are of Rosato d’Or, also from Italy, inset with panes of Fleur de Peche, framed by Hautville, both from France. The lectern and pulpit are also of Rosato d’Or, with inset panels of Bresche Rose, a rare French marble. Near the altar are small green side columns of Italian Cippolino marble."
  • Christ Church Chapel<br /> <br /> From "A Tour of Christ Church:"<br /> <br /> "The chapel itself is simpler than the nave. It has an apse with a Latin cross and a border of alternate pineapples and pomegranates. Pineapples were symbols of hospitality. The pomegranates are associated with the myth of Persephone, whose emergence from the underworld in the Spring reminds us of the Resurrection. Around the arch of the apse, there is a band of three wavy lines reminding us of the Trinity."
  • Christ Church Barrel Vault Ceiling<br /> <br /> From "A Tour of Christ Church:"<br /> <br /> "Continuing with the mosaic symbols, you can look up and see there are three bands of nine symbols across the barrel vault. The same nine symbols are used in varying order in each of the bands and they include: the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end), the Hand of God, the Lamp of Knowledge, the Dove of the Holy Spirit and the Starry Crown of Spiritual Renewal. The vault is lined with acoustic tiles, whose fine aggregate coating serves to diffuse the sound and eliminate echoes when the church’s excellent choir sings on Sundays."
  • Christ Church Barrel Vault Ceiling<br /> <br /> From "A Tour of Christ Church:"<br /> <br /> "Continuing with the mosaic symbols, you can look up and see there are three bands of nine symbols across the barrel vault. The same nine symbols are used in varying order in each of the bands and they include: the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end), the Hand of God, the Lamp of Knowledge, the Dove of the Holy Spirit and the Starry Crown of Spiritual Renewal. The vault is lined with acoustic tiles, whose fine aggregate coating serves to diffuse the sound and eliminate echoes when the church’s excellent choir sings on Sundays."
  • Christ Church Mosaic Ceiling
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