Happy Easter! I was hunting for photos with a religious theme for Saturday Snapshot this week, and finally hit on sharing cathedrals. I have visited a LOT of churches on various trips. Whether you’re religious or not, they tend to be such centers for culture and history, especially the older ones. Here is a smattering, mostly England because I didn’t have a digital camera on some of the other trips!
First, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, where the bird woman sells her birdseed and “the saints and apostles look down,” according to Mary Poppins.
Next up in London, Westminster Abbey, where you can’t walk without stepping on the grave of someone you recognize.
Salisbury Cathedral in (you guessed it) Salisbury, England. If it appears to be tilted, it wasn’t the camera. It really is a little bit off-vertical.
Bath Abbey in, of course, Bath. This is from the back–I just love those arches.
Church of St. John the Divine in New York. It was completely impossible to get it all within the camera lens–it’s enormous. And I couldn’t photograph the best part, because inside someone was playing the most beautiful organ music.
I have not actually been to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, but my parents took this picture, and I’m hoping to go myself this fall. I want to see Quasimodo’s bell towers!
What are the most beautiful churches you’ve seen?
I’ve seen Notre Dame in Paris. It is a wonderful sight to see, but the nearby Saint Chapelle is extraordinary. Actually every church I’ve seen in Paris is amazing in it’s own way. Sadly I haven’t been to England (yet).
I love Cathedrals and Churchs, and make excuses to visit them whenever I can. I just feel they hold so much historical significance as well as religious. I went to Cologne in Germany on a school trip, if you stand at the front of their Cathedral and look up it actually makes you feel a queesy because it is so tall it looks like its leaning over at you.
To be biased though my favourite has to be Lichfield Cathedral, England which is a neighbour to my own town. I love the view from the front of the Cathedral because it is just row after row of statues. I regularly visit it and light a candle.
Lovely photos! The architecture is so inspiring. I think the most amazing churches I’ve seen were on my trip to Kyiv a couple of years ago. There were MANY churches, and I went to at least five — the architecture is astounding, and St Sophia’s has been there since around 1037 — and has marvellous 11th century frescoes still in pretty good shape. It is a historical site now, not a working cathedral but it was overwhelmingly ancient and beautiful.
Those are amazing. I’ve never been to London.
I’ve been to Durham Cathedral, and that’s about it, but I certainly enjoyed going on your tour!
We’ve been to St. Paul’s, St Patrick’s in NYC, and my husband went to a pretty one in Bristol. I love all of the stained glass that they have. We didn’t get to see the inside of Westminster Abbey when we were there because it was closed for a special event (and it was the last day we were there). It’s definitely a reason to plan a return trip someday.
very nice! there’s a church/mission in san antonio that i thought was just beautiful. i took a picture but didn’t write its name down.
Most beautiful church I’ve seen is St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sacramento, CA. It looks like a mission outside, and has gorgeous stained glass windows and walls painted with portraits of notable Franciscan saints (men & women) inside.
Beautiful! Always love visiting them. I was very moved at the Old North Church. It is so small, but has such history.
I love the architecture of churches, even though I’m not a christian. One of my favorite churches is the one back in my home town. It’s from the 11th century and really small, but it has a vibe of ancient history that is really appealing to me.
Anything that old is just breathtaking.
That old European architecture is just breathtaking! I was at Notre Dame last year and wow . . . just wow. It’s like nothing I’d ever seen before. The size and intricacy was astounding.
Thanks for the inspiring cathedrals. My favorite church is St. Chapelle in Paris. Go during the day time, walk upstairs and simply stand in the blue light of the stained glass windows. You’ve inspired me to post a photo of it tomorrow for Easter. Here’s Mine
I’ll have to watch for your photo! Sounds beautiful.
I walked up that very street to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London back in February!
Oh, these are gorgeous cathedrals!
There is (was?) an old Catholic Church in downtown Sacramento, CA that I found absolutely beautiful. I haven’t been back to that neighborhood in many years, so I don’t know if it’s still there.
I do love to look at the churches/cathedrals. Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
That’s funny, I’m from Sacramento! There’s the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (you see where the name comes from) downtown, and a little farther out there’s St. Francis Church. They’re both beautiful; St. Francis is my favorite!
I’m not sure it’s the most beautiful church but a church that really moved me is the Strasbourg Cathedral in Strasbourg, France
Ooh, wow!!
I’ve seen the churches in Moscow – there’s two right on the square that were so amazing & beautiful. There’s something so huge & majestic that isn’t completely captured in pictures except once you feel it, you remember!! Thx for sharing!!! Beautiful!
That leaning spire is a little scary. : / Gotta love centuries-old construction! I totally get your love of cathedrals. They’re so intricate and beautiful. Even the cathedral in the middle of Prague Castle, which I personally think is hideous, was well worth touring. Even the St. Nicholas Cathedral in all its pink gaudiness is also beautiful (also in Prague). Thanks for sharing these!
I think that my all-time favorite church was one that I saw when I visited Poland. It was entirely built out of wood and everything inside was hand-carved, and the overall effect was both beautiful and earthy.
How interesting! I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever seen a wooden church…if I have, I’m sure it was small and simple. The one you describe sounds amazing!