Hobby Thread - May 16, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. For this week, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) decided on a church theme for this Hobby Thread.

A church theme? What does that mean? Going to church is a "hobby"? The ways of the Wheel are strange and mysterious but there is a method to the madness.

[Top Photo: Wayfarers Chapel, Palos Verdes, California]

What are you hobbying?

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. We have a theme, but no need to stick with the theme. Even if the theme does not speak to you, find something else or offer something else relating to hobbying. Leave politics to threads elsewhere. Religion is difficult to avoid with a church theme, but just don't be a jerk. Pants are optional. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

Think of this as a travel themed Hobby Thread with a focus on memorable churches. You may have your home church, but the good book says "where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with them." As a matter of theology, the physical structure doesn't matter but the venue serves as a place for the faithful to gather and mechanism to focus on the act of worship. Church construction itself is also a form of tribute and worship.

Looking back over our travels, we've had some amazing experiences. In some cases, the architecture, artistry, stonework, and/or stained glass was the feature. In other cases, a thundering organ made the walls shake. Some were notable for their history. Some had memorable services and others offered a quiet place for individual respite and solace. We've walked through immense cathedrals and also been in chapels designed for individuals or a small family. There are many different ways to address the same objective and so many different approaches that speak to so many different people.

What churches are memorable for you and what made them memorable? Are there churches you would like to visit?

Should we talk about architecture and design? Art and stained glass? Gargoyles? Location? History?

Has anyone been part of building a new church?

For the record, churches do not have to be fancy or large or expensive (just ask Luther). Several notable churches are included in the content for discussion purposes, but please do not take that as theological commentary.

The Chapel at Twighlight - 11 x 14 - Acrylic

Artist credit: polynikes

US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

The Cadet Chapel is the most recognizable building at the U.S. Air Force Academy and, before the current renovation closure, the most visited man-made tourist attraction in Colorado. This aluminum, glass, and steel structure features 17 spires that shoot 150 feet into the sky. It is considered among the most beautiful examples of modern American academic architecture.

Felsenkirche in Idar-Oberstein, Germany

According to legend, this unique cliffhanging chapel, known as the Felsenkirche (also called "Chapel-in-the-Rocks" and "Crag Church"), was built to atone for the murder of a prince by his jealous brother.

Supposedly, Wyrich and Emich, two brothers who lived in the castle atop of the cliff, were both in love with a beautiful woman named Bertha, each unaware of the other's affections for her. When Wyrich was away, Emich married the object of the their affection. Upon the jilted brother's return, he launched his successful rival from a castle window in a fit of rage. In penitence for his crime, Wyrich singlehandedly excavated the Felsenkirche's cavern on the spot where his dead brother’s body had been found, 165 feet below the castle.

Sadly for fans of medieval romanticism, there is no historical evidence for the legend.

Old North Church (aka Paul Revere "One if by land, two if by sea"), Boston

With two lanterns shining from its steeple on April 18, 1775, Old North Church lit the way for the American Revolution.

Old North's iconic steeple may be one of the most memorable images along the Freedom Trail - but did you know that the steeple you see today is actually Old North's third steeple? Yes, that's right! Not once, but twice, powerful storms have blown down the spire (the wooden section atop the brick tower), resulting in community efforts to rebuild.

Trinity Church has been at the heart of New York City for over 300 years.

Our story began with a small group of Anglicans (members of the Church of England), who wanted to form their own parish in what was then the mercantile colony of New York.

The first Trinity Church was erected on Wall Street in 1698, facing west toward the Hudson River. ... The first Trinity Church building was destroyed during the Revolutionary War in the Great Fire of 1776. The second church, which opened in 1790, faced Wall Street and was both longer and wider than the first, with a steeple that soared to 200 feet. ... The church stood until 1839, when heavy snow caused the roof's support beams to collapse. The third Trinity Church was consecrated on Ascension Day 1846 and is considered one of the first and finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in the country. With its 281-foot-high steeple, Trinity Church was the tallest building in the United States for 23 years and remained the tallest building in New York City until 1890.

Alexander Hamilton is buried in the church's graveyard.

Stille-Nacht-Kapelle, Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria

It was on December 24th of the year 1818, when the assistant priest Mr. Joseph Mohr at the newly established parish of St. Nicola in Oberndorf handed over a poem to Franz Gruber (who was also a schoolteacher in Arnsdorf at the time) who was substituting as organist, with the request to write a suitable melody for 2 solo voices with chorus and guitar accompaniment.

The latter delivered his simple composition to this musically knowledgeable clergyman on that very evening, according to the request, which was immediately performed with great approval on Christmas Night.

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.

Dresden Fauenkirche in Dresden, Germany

The Dresden Frauenkirche looks back on a long history. The various previous churches were already consecrated to Mary, Mother of God, and were named Frauenkirche. In the 18th century, the famous George Bahrs domed building was built, which shaped the cityscape of Dresden for two hundred years. Destroyed shortly before the end of the Second World War, the ruins of the Frauenkirche remained as a memorial in the heart of the city until the unique reconstruction project began in 1993. Since 2005 the Frauenkirche has once again been an open church for the city.

On February 13, 1945, the war that started in Germany returned to Dresden. The Frauenkirche survived the bombing of the city, but collapsed two days later after being burned out.

After the ruins were cleared in 1993/4, the first stone was placed on May 27, 1994. In 1996 the lower church was completed; the outer walls grew up to 28 meters in height. In 2000 the new tower cross was donated.

The church continued to grow in height until 2004. When the tower hood was added on June 22, 2004, the external shape was restored. The interior work followed. The Frauenkirche was consecrated on October 30, 2005.

The Frauenkirche remained a pile of rubble for years after the 1945 collapse. It wasn't until the Berlin Wall fell that reconstruction was feasible. The rebuilt church used bricks that were saved from the rubble of the old church - look for the dark stone blocks.

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, France

In 1239, after two years of negotiation, Louis IX acquired the Crown of Thorns from Beaudouin II of Courtenay, Latin emperor of Byzantium.

Other relics (22 in total, including a fragment of the True Cross) were acquired in 1241, and Louis IX decided to build a monument worthy of this treasure.

With this extraordinary acquisition, 135,000 livres tournois, or half the annual income of the kingdom, Saint Louis expressed his piety, but also increased the prestige of France.

The tribune of the relics, installed in the 1260s and reconstituted during the 19th century restoration, supported the large silver and gilded copper shrine that held the holy relics. The shrine and the reliquaries (casket, intended to contain one or more relics) were melted down during the Revolution and most of the relics have disappeared. The crown of thorns, however, was preserved and joined the treasury of Notre-Dame Cathedral in 1806.

Although the reliquary function of the monument has disappeared (the Sainte-Chapelle is no longer used for worship since the Revolution), the monument still shines today as one of the most extraordinary masterpieces of the High Gothic style.

Immerse yourself in this vessel of light and admire the exceptional set of stained glass windows that constitute the most complete example of 13th century stained glass art. Indeed, two-thirds of the windows are original. The flamboyant style rose window is an extraordinary testimony of the 15th century.

Let yourself be dazzled by 15 exceptional stained glass windows of breathtaking dimensions (15m high in the nave and 13m in the choir!). The windows are composed of 1113 scenes of the Old and the New Testament telling the history of the world, according to the Bible, until the arrival of the relics in Paris then the Apocalypse is represented in the rose window.

Abbaye d'Orval in Belgium

Orval makes this list because of a ruin rather than an intact church. Orval Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval) is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1132. The abbey is well known for its history and spiritual life but also for its local production of the Trappist beer Orval.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the various wars between France and various neighbouring regions had an important impact on Orval. At one stage a foundry was established on the site. In 1637, during the Thirty Years' War, the abbey was pillaged and burnt by French mercenaries.

In the 17th century, the abbey converted to the Trappist branch of the Cistercian order, but reverted to the Rule of the main order in around 1785. In 1793, during the French Revolution, the abbey was completely burnt down by French forces, in retaliation for the hospitality it had provided to Austrian troops, and the community forcibly dispersed.

Between 1926 and 1948, under the direction of the Trappist monk Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen, the new monastery was constructed, and in 1936 Orval regained the rank of abbey. On September 8, 1948, the new church was consecrated.

The medieval tradition of brewing beer at the Abbey was revived in 1931 to generate funds for the rebuilding. The ruins of the medieval buildings remain on the site and are available to view.

If you are wise in the ways of motorsport, you know that this weekend is the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Are you following the race? If you are wise in the ways of motorsport and have not attended the race, get thee to Germany and experience it for yourself. It is madness, but glorious madness. 161 cars entered in over 20 different classes. 15.7 mile track length. There is literally nothing else like it.

Photo credit: Porsche

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did an Montana theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute your own. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.