Quiet Places
You folks coming to class via City Hall MRT station must have seen some of the hoardings go up around St Andrew's Cathedral . I think they are preparing for the onset of the cathedral's extension/renovations. About time! Apparently, the foundation stone was laid down in 1834 at the site supposedly chosen by Raffles himself. The building was struck by lightning twice and also survived the war.
The extension project has a beautiful name. The Quiet Places Project. With the extensions will come more space for their existing congregation. Also, a visitors' centre will be created for tourists and locals to learn more about the historial landmark. I saw the plans in the cathedral and the design of the new annexes is such that there is feeling of openness. Passersby are welcome to flow into the church grounds and the chapel for their own respite and their own contemplation.
From the news: Bishop of Singapore, Reverend John Chew, said: "We live in an age and time where life is getting more worked up and stressed, we feel that in the city centre and market place, people are rushing here and there. One of the main features here is there will be seven different gardens or spots - quiet places where different people will find different niches there and they are all designed to be very welcoming. People can just walk in and just be on their own without being disturbed."
I found this idea of a sanctuary in the midst of the rushing urban landscape very attractive. How lovely that we can escape from the city and step into a quiet place that is always protected. I think Bishop Chew and his folks should be appreciated for their efforts because where we are yet unskilled in meditation, inadept in mastering our minds, a quiet space as this allows us to learn to be still. It is as if by osmosis the silence permeates through us. . . and rekindles something inside us. . . and we revisit another quiet place. . . one that is carried inside us all along. There, your soul welcomes you home.
On the St Andrew's Cathedral website:
http://www.livingstreams.org.sg/sac/info/project/quiet.html
In the news:
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/031123/5/singapore58705.html
The extension project has a beautiful name. The Quiet Places Project. With the extensions will come more space for their existing congregation. Also, a visitors' centre will be created for tourists and locals to learn more about the historial landmark. I saw the plans in the cathedral and the design of the new annexes is such that there is feeling of openness. Passersby are welcome to flow into the church grounds and the chapel for their own respite and their own contemplation.
From the news: Bishop of Singapore, Reverend John Chew, said: "We live in an age and time where life is getting more worked up and stressed, we feel that in the city centre and market place, people are rushing here and there. One of the main features here is there will be seven different gardens or spots - quiet places where different people will find different niches there and they are all designed to be very welcoming. People can just walk in and just be on their own without being disturbed."
I found this idea of a sanctuary in the midst of the rushing urban landscape very attractive. How lovely that we can escape from the city and step into a quiet place that is always protected. I think Bishop Chew and his folks should be appreciated for their efforts because where we are yet unskilled in meditation, inadept in mastering our minds, a quiet space as this allows us to learn to be still. It is as if by osmosis the silence permeates through us. . . and rekindles something inside us. . . and we revisit another quiet place. . . one that is carried inside us all along. There, your soul welcomes you home.
On the St Andrew's Cathedral website:
http://www.livingstreams.org.sg/sac/info/project/quiet.html
In the news:
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/031123/5/singapore58705.html
