Awhile back we shared news around the transformation of a former dining hall to a beautiful chapel. That project involved the efforts of, amongst others, Little Way Construction. While researching that piece, I came across images of another similar sort of project they were involved with in Tyler, Texas at the Holy Family Chapel of the "Veritatis Splendor" community found there.
While this particular project is not quite so ambitious as the other, it is yet another example of taking a rather mundane, ordinary space and, through a little imagination and tradition, re-imagining the space as a chapel.
One can see here how a raised sanctuary platform has already been added here, along with three steps for the altar. (Given the height limitations in this space, I might have opted to go with a single platform rather than a double to allow more room for the altar and its canopy but it's a minor point).
As usual, what is key in making these initiatives successful revolves around the form of altar. The altar is the fixed, central point of focus in any church or chapel, and provided it is beautiful, noble and substantial, what ever else may or may not be going on around it becomes less important (which is not to say it is unimportant though).
For this particular project, a traditionally styled fixed altar was installed against the wall, inclusive of a canopy and retable structure that approximates a dossal -- and it is precisely the inclusion of these elements which make this arrangement work, because it lends added substantiality, beauty and emphasis to the altar. Without the inclusions of these elements, we likely wouldn't be discussing this project.
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| Little Way Construction workers installing the canopy |
The detailing on the canopy and attached retable really helps to bring these pieces together.
The altar itself was a pre-existing altar that a member of this community had built, so they naturally wished to preserve this. Little Way Construction then added the gradines, retable, canopy and altar rails to the pre-existing altar that can be seen here in its former location:
For those interested, here are some photos of the altar once its candlesticks had been put back into place on the new arrangement:
If I were to make one recommendation here to this community it would be that this altar cries out for an antependium, not only for all the usual good liturgical reasons, but also because it would help accentuate the altar yet further, and also further match it better to the colour and ornamentality found above it.
To better demonstrate, we have created the following digital mock-ups to simulate how this would impact not only the altar itself but also the entire arrangement:
It would also be recommendable to add an ornamental carpet to the predella and its associated steps. This is advisable both for practical reasons (insofar as it is easier to kneel on and also gives the clergy and servers more surer footing) and it also has the additional benefit of yet further beautifying and drawing attention to the altar.
I should hasten to add that these are not intended as criticisms of what has been done here. They are merely intended as suggestions and projects such as these also provide us with the opportunity to provide considerations for other communities who may be considering similar initiatives, or whom might be looking for ways to improve upon their impact of their own liturgical spaces.
Well done to all involved in this project.
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