If you go into Chichester cathedral you will see the beautiful Chagall window. If you go into Coventry cathedral you will see the awe-inspiring tapestry Christ in Glory by Graham Sutherland. If you go into countless country churches (including our three) you will see wonderful stained glass and many small details of beautiful carvings.
And I am writing this over the weekend when, in St Mary’s, we are having our Young Persons’ Art Festival on the theme of “Food Glorious Food”. The quality of the art work is so good – so much creative ability. I have given my thanks to all concerned in the Rambling Rector.
The church nationally, at the diocese level and in thousands of parish churches, has always been a patron of the arts. In the first chapters of Genesis in the Bible, humankind is described as made in the “image of God”: (It is also described as “fallen” – which is another editorial entirely – but just surveying our world points to that truth). Theologians exploring the phrase “image of God” point to two meanings. The first is that Christians believe God is pure love – and we as humans can show in our lives something of that love, including building up community – and just as there is much evidence of being fallen, thank goodness, or rather thank God, there is much evidence too, of the ability to show love.
The second is that we can be creative. The context of that phrase in Genesis is God creating the world. And, in passing, it should be said that, for many Christians, the context of God’s creative activity means creating through the world of science. Creativity – the ability to reflect on something in our minds and then, through learned or natural skill, to put it on paper or canvas or moulded in steel or other materials – is unique in any developed sense to human beings. The world of literature, art or music adds immeasurably to the quality of life – touching our sense of appreciation and of thought and of beauty.
And so, one of our churches putting on an Art Festival follows in a long and deep Christian tradition of celebrating human skills and endeavour. The same is true of course of the music we hear. Of course, and rightly so, these creative skills can and should be seen and heard in a wide range of situations and venues also. We are so lucky in our villages to have, in addition to our churches, halls and clubs that celebrate and build up community and creativity – between people (loving) and nature and the arts (creativity).
There is a hymn I like – Angel voices ever singing – which includes a fine a verse linking this creativity to God together:
Yes, we know that thou rejoicest
O’er each work of thine;
Thou didst ears and hands and voices
For thy praise design;
Craftsman’s art and music’s measure
For thy pleasure
All combine.