Over the years, I have had many experiences in places of worship. As a Jew, I have visited many synagogues. Through travel, I have also visited cathedrals, churches, mosques, and sacred sites throughout the world, some of which are famous, historic, and architecturally significant.
In light of that, I was surprised by the depth of my reaction last Saturday at a memorial service at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale. I was there to honor Dr. James Schamadan, a man I had known for only six or seven years, yet he had influenced me. Jim had served as president of the Board of our homeowners association, on which I also served. He was friendly, thoughtful, gracious, and quietly impressive. At 98, he embodied a life of service, accomplishment, and continued engagement with the people around him.
But what affected me most that morning was not only the service itself, as meaningful as it was, but the place where the service took place.
The sanctuary at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church was designed by architect Jim Roberts of Roberts/Jones Associates and is unlike any other worship space I have experienced. Sitting there, I was deeply moved by the architecture. In fact, it was as close to a meaningful religious experience as I can remember having in a place of worship.
The sanctuary is an asymmetrical space, yet it does not feel arbitrary or forced. Each element has its own identity, yet they are carefully integrated into a larger whole. Nothing seemed accidental. Nothing seemed to compete unnecessarily. The space did not impose itself on the congregation; instead, it gathered us together.
One of the most remarkable features is the large stained-glass window. It does more than decorate the sanctuary. It transforms it. The glass, light, and exterior landscape seem to work together, so the view beyond the building becomes part of the worship space itself. The boundary between inside and outside seems softened. The desert landscape is not excluded; it is invited in. That integration of art, architecture, and nature is masterful.
The placement of the choir and pipe organ was equally powerful. They had a major presence in the sanctuary, as they should, yet they were not overpowering. The music filled the space without dominating it. The organ and choir supported the service rather than overwhelming it. Their presence gave the memorial emotional weight, but the architecture kept that weight uplifting rather than heavy.
The pulpit was also handled with unusual sensitivity. It was clearly an important element, yet it was not so dominant as to create distance between speaker and congregation. That balance
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David Brotman FAIA Member Emeritus
Sunset Consultants
Scottsdale AZ
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