We are delighted to present the recordings of the lecture series given by Dr James Blackstone, accompanying the residency, The Art of Worship.
We thank James for his hard work and superb delivery of the series, and thank all those who have joined us in learning about 'The Spiritual Senses & the Liturgical Arts'. If you would like to watch recordings of the lectures, they can be found below.
The Spiritual Senses in Tradition
Interest in the spiritual senses is fresh and growing, but the subject is not new. This lecture will explore selected approaches to the spiritual senses taken within Christian tradition. We’ll be asking: What are the spiritual senses? How do these spiritual senses relate to our physical senses? What kind of experiences are they? There’ll be a focus, within Scripture, on the Song of Songs in particular.
The Spiritual Senses and Making
This lecture will attempt to show how the spiritual senses can shape artistic forms. To this end, we’ll investigate the processes and disciplines involved in making these forms: How does the liturgical artist approach their work? What are the artist’s prime sources and reference points? There’ll be consideration, too, of what is shared by the liturgical artist and all Christians.
The Spiritual Senses as Transformation
The focus for the final lecture will turn to the intended effects of liturgical art. We’ll explore how a Church environment can stimulate the spiritual senses. We will observe how this happens through a variety of complementary means that build towards a total effect. In this context, the spiritual senses register the transformation of the whole person in a renewed cosmos.
If you have any questions for James following the lectures, or would like to get in contact, please email info@chichestercathedral.org.uk.