The Unfinished Church
By Michelle Ting
MOSAIC Team
The Sagrada Familia, also known as the world's largest unfinished church, is slated to be completed some time in 2030, some 148 years after its beginnings. I recently visited this basilica, compelled by insistent recommendations from friends.
The behemoth structure stands central, equidistant to the sea and mountains in Barcelona, Spain. Its main architect, Antoni Gaudi spent decades of his life, right to its end, passionately and painstakingly dedicated to its design and modelling. He was guided by his Catholic faith; and inspired and taught by nature, sought to imbue the structure with the gospel story and elements of the created order.
The exterior and interior bears testament to the story of Christ and the glory of His creation. The Lord's prayer is carved into the entry doorway, and “Our Father” and “give us this day our daily bread,” inscribed in 50 languages, serve as an invitation to all tribes and tongues, to the table of His kingdom. Tall spires surmounted by symbols of the gospel seek to display the story of Christ to the world.
The large space within is held up by sturdy columns designed to represent tree trunks, with branch-like constructs holding up the roof. Large, stained-glass windows were generously carved into its walls to allow an abundance of natural light to flood its interior. Gaudi wanted worshippers to experience faith not from a place of darkness and shadow, but from a place of light and joy. Much of the design celebrates the natural world, and was foundational, functional and aesthetic as Gaudi modelled large areas after animals and plants. He wanted the place to bear witness to the story of Christ and creation from within and without.
As I stood beneath, squinting under the glare and scald of the 42ºC Spanish heat, surrounded by over a century's worth of intricate architecture that continues on, I wondered if this was somehow emblematic of the wider Church, the Church of human souls whose construction was started over 2000 years ago and which remains unfinished, in progress. As sculptors, architects and countless other workers continue to put building materials together for the basilica in accordance with Gaudi's early designs, I reflected on buildings elsewhere that have been disintegrated by ongoing wars, and the human souls that are left without space and dignity, whose lives are filled with fear, darkness and shadow. I wondered about the darkness of climate change and environment degradation overshadowing much of the created order.
We, as a part of the Church, are called to be a witness and a testament to the story of Christ, by our words and actions.
What of the story of Christ do others see, or not see in us, even as wars and conflict continue to rage?
How do we honour the legacy of our Creator through our consideration of the environment?
Do we stand willing to extend the light and love of Christ to others living in shadow and darkness?
The Sagrada Familia, in all its earthly glory and magnificence, is a reminder to us that the Church remains unfinished, and that we, as believers, are all workers called to its ongoing construction. Gaudi's work reminds us that we are a part of, not apart from creation.
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