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I was working on some photos of an abandoned church in Gary Indiana, and wondered how many of these amazing places exist throughout the world. These churches can range from a small single room to vast spaces with multiple levels, and sometimes encompass a school, convent, or rectory. Many can be found at psychiatric hospitals, which often catered to all different faiths; surprisingly I have come across very few abandoned synagogues, most being inaccessible.
Most of these structures hold extravagant details in their woodwork, stone, or massive pipe organs, and the abandonment of this craftsmanship is often astounding. So, I've pulled together photographs of the thrity-six or so abandoned chapels or churches I've found along the way, and hope you enjoy them!
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Thanks for all you do!
I haven't been on in a week or so and was very excited to see these pictures today! What stunning pictures, the ceilings and woodwork, stone, etc. are breathtaking!
Thanks!
Thank you for another wonderful set of photos and for all the amazing galleries you have given us in 2009, really look forward to what is to come in 2010. It is such a same these beautiful buildings are left to rack and ruin and even to hear they have been reduced to rubble, it is truely a crime. Thanks to you for capturing their beauty so wonderfully for all time, you are a stunningly talented photographer.
Happy New Year from England.
Thank you for your continued efforts to provide all of your "fans" with your amazing photos and for keeping Opacity going. I've been here since almost the start and you have never let me down.
I wish you a merry Christmas and look forward to a new year of more of your wonderful works.
Thanks
I'd buy.
Amazing set. Speechless.
Merry Christmas to everyone, and may 2010 be a prosperous
year for all.
Its been a long time. My comment is in regards to your statement about the number of churches that are abandoned vs. the lack of abandoned synagogues.
The priesthood in the Catholic Church is shrinking. Probably a combination of Rome's inability to progress forward with the times and allow priests to marry as well the various scandals that have rocked the church (including how they dealt with those scandals for decades).
Someone previously mentioned congregations being combined due to a lack of parish members. While that may be happening in some situations I still think the larger cause is a lack of priests.
Synagogue's on the other hand do not have trouble finding rabbis to service their temple. The few that shut down are probably more the results of the congregation moving away. As for the occasional synagogue abandonment usually being inaccessible - lets face it - the jewish people have been an object of so much prejudice and attacks on their places of worship that they are prepared to lock up properly after themselves when they are ready to leave.
John Black
Ps. My perspective is shaped by having grown up Catholic although I am largely non-practicing now. My general view is that religion has not been a positive thing for the world. More people have killed other people in the name of religion than perhaps anything else.
This is quite a nice Infra Red photograph whilst we're on the abandoned churches theme :)
Happy New Year All ! !