Space & Place in worship

a discussion starter

One way of stating the needs of the baptized believer attending worship, or the needs of the searching soul also entering the house of worship, is to say that they are needing both "a PLACE of recognition & acceptance" and "a SPACE for privacy before God." If they are provided with both then "blessed are they."

The late Canon W. H.Vanstone wrote: "If a parish church is to provide adequately for the ferment of private and personal life in the parish, it must provide in its worship both ' a place' and 'a space' for each person who comes to worship. One has one's place to the extent that one is individually known and that one's particular needs and aspirations are recognized and met: one has also one's space to the extent that one retains one's privacy and is addressed and treated in worship simply as a creature in the presence of the Creator or as a child of God in the Father's house."

Let us reflect for a moment on "place." If one is warmly greeted at the door, if one's particular prayer requests are addressed, if one is invited to this or that event/meeting, if one is warmly hugged in the passing of the peace, if one is asked to do something in the worship service, if one's children are well catered for, and if one is generally noticed, it may be said that one is experiencing "place" - that is there is a real place for one in this assembly and in this congregation and in this house of worship.

Now let us reflect on "space." If one is allowed to find a pew, given
liberty to pray quietly & meditate in silence, to kneel or stand as one wishes, not be invaded by a hug or tight handshake, not be cajoled into singing loudly, and permitted to leave with minimum fuss then it may be said that one is experiencing "space" - that is one's privacy is being respected and one is being given room to worship according to one's own convictions, without hurting another.

In terms of Anglican worship, we may say that "space" is usually much available at traditional services be they of Holy Communion at 8.a.m. or of Choral Mattins at 10.00.a.m. on Sundays. Here there is no "passing of the peace" and people are usually allowed to come and go with minimal attempts to ascertain by the resident clergy or sidesmen who they are, from where they are and how they are.

Further, we may say that "place" is usually much available in popular, evangelical and charismatic services. The visitor is identified, watched over and gently interrogated. The regulars are noted and celebrated and their particular needs explained and prayed for. All seek to establish the self-worth of each person through such means as fellowship through laid-back singing, the greetings in the "peace," and the jokes in the notices.

It seems to me that it is easier to make provision for "place" in the traditional service where "space" is usually primary, than it is to make provision for "space" in the modern service where "place" is primary.

In traditional congregations, it is possible by restrained but gracious welcomes and goodbyes, by careful naming of needy persons in the intercessions, by measured, attractive and short notices, by appropriate follow-up visiting, by edifying mid-week meetings/services and by a general sense of warmth, to cater for "place" as one provides "space." Of course, the sense of place will never be as overt as with the modern type of services.

To create "space" in modern services where one's "place" is so prominent, exalted and celebrated is a tremendous and difficult task. I confess that I do not know what to suggest in terms of providing it!


The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
Minister of Christ Church, Biddulph Moor,
England & Vice-President and Emissary-at-Large
of The Prayer Book Society of America