Looking for Peace

Often times, life is full of trouble and worries. It’s hard to find rest, and in the chaos, it’s especially hard to find God. Architect William Butterfield shows an understanding of this prevalent problem through the design of the Cathedral of the Isles, which radiates a sense of peace. Through his choices in symbolism and Revival Gothic architectural style, William Butterfield communicates that in finding peace, we can be pointed toward God.

In “The Cathedral of the Isles”, William Butterfield uses a component of the Revival Gothic Architectural style to communicate peace and calm. Butterfield does this through the inclusion of a porch. He uses the porch to symbolize peace and union with God, as when we slow down and sit, we can calm the troubles in our mind and find God. The porch represents God's refuge for us in the chaos. Through it, we feel calmed and relaxed. William Butterfield uses the porch of Gothic Revival style to show that through resting and in quietness, we can find peace and be pointed toward God. Therefore, through the porch, we can understand the peace and calm God has given us.

Another factor of Gothic Revival architecture Butterfield used was faded colors. The outside and inside colors of the cathedral of isles are calming and smoothing to the human mind. You can see that the designer was trying to make the place calming to bring peace. Yet the architect also points to God with the plain white interior, which can be inferred to symbolize the presence and holiness of God. The yellow at the very back symbolizes the sun. The outside with the dark gray and the light gray shows the desire of forgiveness for our sins and the red doors symbolize the Passover. William Butterfield successfully used different faded colors to show us the sign of peace throughout the cathedral.

In Cathedral of the Isles, William Butterfield uses characteristics of the Gothic Revival style to show that everything points to God. One such example are the peaked windows, which have spires and point upwards. Gothic architecture, used mainly for churches, also usually comprises of different parts pointing upwards, such as doors, chimneys, and towers. We can infer from this fact that William symbolizes the windows as an example for everything in this life. With the building being a cathedral, we can only infer that this pointing of upwards in everything represents that we look upwards and be pointed to God.

Another factor of Gothic Revival architecture Butterfield used was faded colors. The outside and inside colors of the cathedral of isles are calming and smoothing to the human mind. You can see that the designer was trying to make the place calming to bring peace. Yet the architect also points to God with the plain white interior, which can be inferred to symbolize the presence and holiness of God. William Butterfield successfully used different faded colors to show us the sign of peace throughout the cathedral.

Using the styles of Gothic Architecture, William Butterfield uses various structures in his cathedral to point us towards God and display an ataractic image of peace. Through the upward-pointed roofs and windows, Butterfield also attempts to show that everything in life is pointed upwards towards God. Through the colors and the porch, he soothes visitors with the sensation of peace. These messages that William sends out through his architecture is important in all our lives. Through peace, we can be pointed towards God. William Butterfield’s cathedral can be seen as a constant reminder to look up to God and to try to achieve peace in our lives.

-B. Lit. Group Six