Architecture and Faith
In this episode we discuss the connections between Architecture and Faith, by talking to three historians, writers and heritage professionals about new approaches to considering the history of buildings used by communities of faith.
Religious architecture has always been central to architectural history because human societies have always been inspired to build beautiful and high-status buildings as part of their religious practices. However, in this conversation we addressed new ways of talking about religious architecture: examining what they might have meant to the communities that built them, exploring the avenues for adaptation and retention of religious buildings in a changing society, and talking about how marginalised communities have created spaces for religious worship.
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Fig 1: Shahporan Masjid and Islamic Centre Trust on Hackney Road, designed by Shahed Saleem
Contributors:
William Whyte is Professor of Social and Architectural History at St John's College, Oxford, writing about the architectural and material history of education, faith and society and serves as the Chair of the Oxford Preservation Trust.
Shahed Saleem is a practicing architect and researcher, and teaches architecture at the University of Westminster. He is the author of ‘The British Mosque, an architectural and social history’, published by Historic England in 2018. He researches the architecture of diaspora, minority and migrant communities, and how these relate to themes of heritage, identity and urban belonging.
Rachel Morley is the Director of Friends of Friendless Churches. Until 2021, Rachel was co-Chair of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. She is a judge for the John Betjeman Award for church conservation and an assessor for the Architect’s Accreditation in Building Conservation.
Your hosts were Matthew Lloyd Roberts and Dr Jessica Kelly, and this project was devised with Neal Shasore. This podcast is produced by Front Ear Podcasts.