Cathedral of Santa Maria
                                                               (Google Images)

Cathedral of Santa Maria
Saville, Spain

"The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, better known as Seville Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Seville (Andalusia, Spain). It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. It is also the largest cathedral in the world, as the two larger churches, theBasilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida and St Peter's Basilica, are not the seats of bishops. It was registered in 1987 byUNESCO as a World Heritage Site,...

"After its completion in the early 16th century, the Seville Cathedral supplanted Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world, a title the Byzantine church had held for nearly a thousand years. The cathedral is also the burial site of Christopher Columbus. The Archbishop's Palace is located on the northeastern side of the cathedral.

Front Facade
(Photo by Judi)

"Seville Cathedral was built to demonstrate the city's wealth, as it had become a major trading center in the years after the Reconquista in 1248. In July 1401 it was decided to build a new cathedral.... ("Let us build a church so beautiful and so grand that those who see it finished will think we are mad").  Construction began in 1402 and continued until 1506.

"Five years after construction ended, in 1511, the dome collapsed and work on the cathedral recommenced. The dome again collapsed in 1888, and work was still being performed on the dome until at least 1903. The 1888 collapse occurred due to an earthquake and resulted in the destruction of "every precious object below" the dome at that time.

"The interior has the longest nave of any cathedral in Spain. The central nave rises to a height of 42 meters and is lavishly decorated with a large quantity of gilding. 

"The builders used some columns and other elements from the ancient mosque, including its minaret, which was converted into a bell tower known as La Giralda, now the city's most well-known symbol.

La Giralda Bell Tower (Photo by Judi)

"Seville Cathedral has fifteen doors on its four facades.

"The cathedral has 80 chapels,..." (Link)

"Today we did a tour of Seville. The cathedral Santa Maria is the third largest in the world. Like most churches in this area it was first a mosque. The spires were extended and bells added when it was turned into a cathedral." (Judi)

***********

Photos: Taken by long time friend Judi Clark while touring Spain with the
                 B. C. Women's Dragon Boat team.
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seville_Cathedral

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

                          

                                                                       March 27, 2016

Bay View Baptist Church-on right 

                                              2701 S. Logan Avenue
                                                                      (Link 2.) 

Bay View Baptist Church (demolished)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2701 S. Logan Avenue

(Link 3-page 32)

Bay View Baptist Church sat on the corner of South Logan Avenue and East Russell  Avenue, just a short short block up from S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, the main street through the area of Milwaukee known as Bay View.  It was dedicated in 1894 and was open until the late 1950's when a new church was built at 3800 S. Howell Avenue. (Link 1.)

"‎Greg Schultz‎ to at Facebook page Bay View Vintage Wisconsin posted 3/18/16

"The Bay View Baptist Church existed at 2701 S. Logan from 1894-1969, ...  (Facebook, Greg Schultz.)

             Exterior of Bay View Baptist Church

              with Llewellyn  Library to the right
                             on Russell Avenue

                                    *************

Link 1: "Bay View Baptist Church : seventy-fifth anniversary, 1892-1967 / [Mrs. Minnie May Lewis]" at

 http://uw-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/dlSearch.do?vid=MIL

Link 2: "Image of America, Bay View" by Ron Winkler, Page 32 Photo at https://books.google.ca/books?id=WBJbJbobx_8C&pg=PA8&lpg=PA8&dq=Bay+View+Batist+Church,+Milwaukee+Wisconsin&source=bl&ots=z5ZfdwyN76&sig=tuBve4WzFPm1iOfLwAbxRZVELww&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVtITtuMrKAhVE8WMKHexCC0IQ6AEINTAF#v=onepage&q=Bay%20View%20Batist%20Church%2C%20Milwaukee%20Wisconsin&f=false 

Link 3: https://ca.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=iba&hsimp=yhs-1&type=wmds_5301_CRW_CA&p=2701+Loga

                                                               

• Reference: Title: 
            Bay View Baptist Church : seventy-fifth anniversary, 1892-1967 / [Mrs.                   Minnie May Lewis]
•           Author: Minnie May Lewis Mrs.
•           Subjects: Bay View Baptist Church (Milwaukee, Wis.) -- Anniversaries,                 etc; Milwaukee (Wis.) -- Church history
•          Publication Information: Milwaukee, Wis. : The Church 
•          Format: 17 leaves : illustrations, portraits ; 28 cm. 
•          Notes: Cover title.; "Mrs. Minnie May Lewis, church history."--Leaf 1.; 
•         "Present church: 3800 S. Howell Ave., dedicated June 1, 1958, first church:
•          2701 S. Logan Ave., dedicated Dec. 16, 1894."--P.[1] of cover. 
• 
  

St. Clara's in Claraplatz

St. Clara's Church
Basel, Switzerland

Sanctuary of St. Clara's

The parish of St. Clara includes quite Kleinbasel. Here live 6,700 Catholics from over 100 nations. Every weekend meet more than 1,000 in 7 different religious services in the churches of the parish. More than 300 meet regularly in different groups: Small Christian Communities, altar servers, neighborhood groups, choirs, clubs, worship groups, prayer groups, youth associations, groups of visitors, English-language community .... Since 2007, there are in our parish territory a small monastery with four priests from India (link: Homepage Karmelitenkloster Prophet Elias).

For parish includes four churches:

• Parish: St. Joseph
• City Church St. Clara
• Quartier churches: St. Michael and St. Christopher" (Link 1.)

Sanctuary Doors and

Stained Glass Windows Above

Sanctuary Stained Glass Windows

Candles with Holy Family

Christ Mosaic

Wreath of Life

Christmas Nativity in the 

Sanctuary Chancel

Photos: Taken by RW with his i Phone while living and working in Basel 
                Switzerland.

Link 1: http://www.st-clara.ch/kleinbasel/?ueberuns  (translation)
Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                             March 13, 2016

St. Martinskirche

Bleichmattstrasse 4600

Roman Catholic Church St. Martinskirche

Olten, Switzerland

Olten

(Link 2.)

"Olten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland and capital of the district of the same name.

"Olten's railway station is within 30 minutes of Zürich, Bern, Basel, and Lucerne by train, and is a rail hub of Switzerland.

" From the 2000 census, 6,803 or 40.6% were Roman Catholic, while 4,262 or 25.4% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church." (Link 1.)

Interior Dome

(Pininterest Image)

"Local tradition has it that Martin Luther himself delivered a 10-minute s speech here in the 1520's, whether his presence turned the tide against Catholicism or merel encouraged the existing Protestant congregation is unknown.  The existing church building was constructed in 1491 on the foundations of its predecessor; Augusto Giacometti created the stained glass windows in 1919." (Link 2.)

Sanctuary-Right Side

( Google Resource)

********

Photos: Taken by RW with his i Phone while living and working in Basel                  Switzerland. Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olten Link 2: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ca/chur-st-martinskirche-st-martin-s-church-graubuenden.htm Prayer God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Roman Catholic Church, Nativity of Mary

Roman Catholic Church, Nativity of Mary
Muri, Sins, Switzerland

Muri, Sins, Switzerland

(Link 1.)

"Sins is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. Sins has an area, as of 2009, of 20.3 square kilometers 7.8 sq mi.... 5.65 sq mi  is used for agricultural purposes, while 1.37 sq mi  is forested...0.75 sq mi... buildings or roads....Sins has a population (as of December 2014) of 4,216.

Railroad Sign for Sins

"From the 2000 census, 2,350 or 71.6% were Roman Catholic, while 415 or 12.6% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church." (Link 1.)

Entrance to Nativity of Mary                "Historical background of the church Nativity of Mary "The parish Sins introduces the Municipal House (originally the seat of the administration of the monastery Engelberg) and the Lower Kaplanei the historic "core" of the civic community represents. Sanctuary and Chancel Central Altar Altar at Right of Chancel Altar at Left of Chancel Pulpit at Lest of Chancel Rear of the Sanctuary Ceiling of the Sanctuary "The parish Sins to be an ancient parish by tales and legends and in 1245 first mentioned. But you suspected rightly that already have a 990 Mary's Church stood on this site. The original parish stretched from Risch (ZG) to Rickenbach (at Merenschwand) and included the towns Auw (incl. Rüstenschwil) Mühlau and Abtwil. "1493 Dedication of a new church by Coadjutor Bishop of Konstanz. From this building is still the tower basement and the tabernacle obtained. 1608 Completion of the expansion and renovation work and dedication 1633 Parish Sins comes into the possession of the monastery Engelberg (Fathers exercised until 1849 as pastor and governor in Sins). 1638 Parish Auw separates from Sins. 1712 Church during the First Villmerger war theater of war and will be damaged heavily. 1748 Parish Abtwil is independently 1753 New inauguration of the church dedicated to "Mary's Birth" by the coadjutor of the diocese Konstanz 1770 Installation of a large organ 1866 Engelberg Abbey omitted "Kollaturrecht" at the parish Sins. 1876 Consecration today six tower bells 1878 Mühlau 1906/07 First total renovation 1964/68 Interior Renovation; in addition, the 7th bell is hung in the tower. 1997/99 Outdoor Renovations "(Link 2.) ****** Sanctuary Statue Sanctuary Statue Holy Water Urn ********** Photos: Taken by RW while living and working in Basel Switzerland Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sins,_Aargau Link 2: http://www.pfarrei-sins.ch/fuer-sie-da/index.htm (translation) Prayer God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)