Sacred Modernity documents the dramatic shift in ecclesiastical architecture across post-war
Europe. Spurred on by the modernizing impulses of the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s
and in search for an appropriate architectural language that showed that the Catholic Church
was still relevant to the modern world this was the period when the church married the atheist
architect and bore a child of pure form. Among these structures some exude a joyful
antagonism while others emanate a cold minimalism. Boldly designed outrageous and provocative
for their time the aesthetic of this period still ignites great debate between modernists and
traditionalists. Half a century on this study traces how their materials and ideals have
matured and patinated. Remaining amongst the most unique buildings within our public sphere
they are future visions from the near past that seem to anticipate societies current shift away
from organized religion towards an individual spirituality. The book represents the first
attempt by a photographer to collate the religious architecture of the mid-century high modern
years that took many forms from Brutalism to Structural Expressionism under a singular
artistic vision. JAMIE McGREGOR SMITH (*1982 Weymouth UK) studied photography at
Staffordshire University graduating in 2006. Inspired by the American New-Topographic movement
he began his documentary records with the defunct pottery industry in the British midlands the
collapse of the motor industry in Detroit or the abandoned Athens Olympics stadiums. His works
have been published by The New York Times The Guardian the Financial Times Wallpaper*
Architectural Digest and Vanity Fair.
