“How other future worlds will ripen to God I do not know, but for us art is the way.” Ranier Maria Rilke, German poet

 

“Some things lead us into the realm beyond words. Art thaws even the frozen, darkened soul, opening it to lofty spiritual experience. Through Art we are…sent…revelations not to be achieved by rational thought.  …It is like that small mirror in the fairy-tales….you glimpse the Inaccessible, [a realm forever beyond reach] where no horse or magic carpet can take you. And [your] soul cries out for it.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Russian novelist (from his Nobel Prize speech titled, “The Gift of Art”)

 

 

St. John’s Church is committed to exploring and nurturing the relationship between faith and the arts, believing creativity profoundly expresses and illustrates the nature of God, the ultimate Creator. We believe that the arts are the wellsprings of the spiritual journey, with the capacity to take us to that deeper dimension in our pilgrimages toward nearing the heart of God.

 

Additionally, St. John’s Church has proactively focuses on the visual arts and their interplay with faith, even to help build bridges of understanding and respect between Christians and Muslims. While it is no longer officially affiliated with St. John's Church, the international interfaith CARAVAN arts initiative, founded by our former Rector, Rev. Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler, originated out of our church while he was the Rector.

 

For CARAVAN, as an organization, and for the various CARAVAN Festivals of the Arts that were held at St. John's Church, please see:  www.oncaravan.org

 

Below are examples of some of the other arts emphases of St. John’s Church.

 

Stained Glass Windows

Sculpture