How do you feel in abandoned religious buildings?

Question

The photos show St Govans chapel not too far from where I live. It is located half way down a cliff on a military live firing range but is accessible when they're not shooting or blowing stuff up.

It was originally the hermitage of St Govan in the 6th century and after he was laid to rest there they built a chapel on it. It's been repaired a lot over the years but some of the original building still remains.

However, it's not been used as a chapel for a long time. Access is down an awkward steep flight of slippery stairs but I've witnessed many a little old lady hobble down which suggests to me the building has meaning beyond tourist attraction to them.

There are abandoned religious buildings like this worldwide big and small, some in good condition others just an outline of stone and rubble.

But how do YOU FEEL in these places? Are they just of historical curiosity like an abandoned barn? Does it still feel like you walking on religious ground? Or is God long gone from them?

How do you feel in abandoned religious buildings?

Staximus · Accepted Answer

I'm not religious but I want to see pretty much every old and abandoned religious building or temple in the world. I hate flying and I'm probably not going to make it to old age, though. At least I can look at pictures online. I just like old stuff and am fascinated by the building techniques, craftsmanship, architecture, etc. I like learning about the history of a place, and what made that place so special for so long when the people could have just went elsewhere. I try not to think too hard about what the people felt who were there in the past. I'm not trying to have any angry ghosts follow me home for minding their business

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

Decades ago, as my college was expanding, they eventually acquired a Catholic seminary. The old seminary itself was ultimately demolished, but the seminary chapel on the grounds was gutted and turned into a beautiful 24-hour computer center. MANY hours I spent in that church/computer center. It was gorgeous and very nice to see stained glass while waiting for computer printouts or, later in the mid-1990s, surfing the web.

lilBigPotato · Accepted Answer

Abandoned buildings can have their own special appeal, religious or not

collie22 · Accepted Answer

I've never seen an abandoned church in person.

AviatorTom · Answer

I've been to several religious buildings in various countries, some abandoned, others in ruins, and some still used. I am, first, amazed at the architecture and innate beauty of the buildings, I think back to the people that created them and the strong beliefs they had. I'm not overly religious but I often say a prayer or light a candle.

Lliam · Answer

I visited LOTS of ancient religious buildings in Ireland. Newgrange, Clonmacnoise, Glendlough, Rock of Cashel, the bee hive huts on the Dingle peninsula, and many more.

I'm not religious, so I didn't feel any holy presence. But I love the architecture and history, and appreciate the sentiments of those who constructed them and still venerate them.

mstbooblover · Answer

Although I can hardly be called religious, the inside of an empty church still conveys for me something special, a kind of calm and rest, as if the walls were still impregnated with many decades' prayers.

When I enter such an abandoned church, even after it has been transformed for some other use, I feel a wee little bit nostalgic, and inclined to some meditation. The same may be true for an abandoned mosque, temple or synagogue.

Andres77 · Answer

Gods “presence“ is in the heart of the faithful. The faithful are “the Church“.

The buildings are historical monuments. God is no more present in the old buildings that he is in a tree or a waterfall.
but these are some really cool buildings that I’d love to explore. I would feel exhilarated at the opportunity.

BCRanger10 · Answer

There is a haunting and mysterious beauty about them.

NathanDavis · Answer

I feel home...

LiamJHayden · Answer

That one is amazing and I would love for it to be preserved, but I can understand its being abandoned as modern church people want heated cushy pews with multimedia presentations for their 25 minute sermons.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I like them. They're cool to explore and photograph, especially when they're in ruins or unfinished

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Well to me they're just ruins. I like ruins. I think I prefer them to complete structures. Not to live in, obviously.

RavVid · Answer

Churches deconsecrate so technically God has left the building. I would be very interested in it as a building from the 500's. Wow.

SotiCoto · Answer

I kinda like old religious ruins, at least if they're being reclaimed by nature. It is reassuring to know humanity's idiotic religions don't really amount to anything in the long term.

Pete671 · Answer

I used to be a night watchman in an abandoned convent, just made me really horny tbh,

Anonymous · Answer

I guess I would feel connected to the people who valued it so much. But at the end of the day I'm not having any nightmares about it

soe11 · Answer

To be preserved as a heritage

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Nothing. Religious temples mean nothing to God.

Anonymous · Answer

Victorious

How do you feel in abandoned religious buildings?

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How do you feel in abandoned religious buildings?

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