SECTION ONE: Christian Architecture
Textbook Reference pages: 4, 6-8, 19, 24, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33.
Also use School and Public Library resources.
Tasks
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Copy OHT - Places of Christian Worship across 2000yrs.
Study the building of a Cathedral in the Middle Ages.
Read and take notes from the text book pages listed above.
List all the uses of a church building and different activities that take place during worship
and match up the furniture and other objects needed e.g. Baptism - font.
The type of artwork and decorations you have noticed in churches you have been in, e.g.
Stations of the Cross, stained glass, statues etc.
Note: Concentrate on the important furniture and shapes of churches. Why?
Church Study: To be presented in booklet or poster form.
Either visit a local church or find an interesting Christian church in a book to use for your study.
Refer to your lists from lessons to make sure you cover everything.
1. Draw up a floor plan of this church and mark in as many features as you can. Include the
furniture, especially the lectern, the altar, and the priest's chair.
2. Instead of drawing you may want to take photos, or use photos of the church already available.
3. Make some notes about the art work featured in the church.
4. Make a note of provisions for music or musicians.
5. Include historical information about the church.
SECTION TWO: Christian Music
References: The handout which has notes from the textbook, books on music available in the
libraries and CD-ROM Encyclopedias.
Tasks:
In class we will listen to taped extracts of famous music demonstrating the different types of sacred
music used either in Christian worship or based on a Christian theme.
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Make a list of the ways music is used in worship today.
Draw up a structure of the Mass which shows the use of music in the past and the present.
Make notes on some of the styles used for sacred music and famous composers who have
written sacred music.
Music Study: To be presented on refill paper or booklet, and leaflet.
Choose ONE of the topics listed below for a research project.
1. Persons: Pope Gregory 1; J S Bach; G F Handel; Mozart; Andrew Lloyd Weber; Dorothy
Buchanan.
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When, where did/do they live
What sort of sacred music did/do they write
Name some of their most famous compositions
Make a comment on whether this music is used much today, and if so, where?
2. Styles: Oratorio; Black Gospel Music; Hymns; Organ Music.
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Write about the history of this style and how it developed.
Where and how is it performed today?
Plan the music for a Mass today on a special theme. Draw up the plan of what music and
readings you would like to use in the Mass.
Present this in a leaflet form. e.g. like the school mass ones or others you may have seen
used at weddings or funerals.
SECTION THREE: Christian Art
References are all from the textbook but use any other resources available; e.g.CD-Rom
Encyclopedias.
Tasks
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Read a brief history of Christian Art from sections of the textbook.
Construct a Timeline of this history.
Have a close look at the posters in Rm 207 and 309 and any other art work around the
school, in churches or in books, and take note of the artists or work that you particularly
like.
List reasons why art has been used so much in the history of Christianity.
Read these sections;
Pg. 2 - The Beginnings Pg. 4 - Influence of Constantine
Pg. 6 - Para. 1 and 2 Pg. 8 - Church Ornamentation
Pg. 12 - Sculpture and Stained Glass Pg. 16 - Concepts of Freedom
Pg. 18 - Church and the Arts Pg. 23 - Some Background/Art
Pg. 29 - Para. 1 and 2 Pg. 33 - A Treasury of Art
Art Study: Present your information either in a booklet or on a poster.
Choose ONE of these. Either an artist or a style of Art. e.g. Sculpture; Stained Glass; Carving;
Painting.
1. Research the way your artist or style of art presented symbols, images, stories of Christianity.
Describe this in any form you like. E.g. pictorially with explanations
2. Comment on how these works of art are expressions of faith
3. Comment on where and how these art works are displayed today.
Textbook references which maybe helpful
Pg 2 - Catacombs - Early Christians Pg 4-5 - Byzantine Art
Pg 8 - Romanesque/Church Ornamentation (mosaics, icons)
(frescoes, paintings, sculptures) Pg 12 - Sculpture
Pg 13 - Stained Glass/Gothic Art Pg 15-16 - Naturalism/Freedom
Pg 18,20-21 - Baroque Art (Giotto)
Pg 26, 29-30, 33-34 - Christianity in NZ Art Pg 23-24 - Age of Revival
Criteria to be assessed: Research, Selecting and Processing Information, Understanding Ideas
Submitted by: Colleen Edgecombe, Sacred Heart College, Napier