Catholic architect urges next generation to build from the 'Catholic imagination'

A Catholic architect encouraged the next generation of architects to draw from the “Catholic imagination” in a June 24 interview at the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C.

James C. McCrery II, a practicing classical architect and associate professor and director of studies in classical and traditional architecture at The Catholic University of America's (CUA) School of Architecture and Allied Arts, reflected on decades spent designing churches and educating aspiring architects.

“I design,” he said, according to the CUA, “for people to come to know the faith, love the Church, live in it, and come to love Christ and the Most Holy Trinity.”

During the interview with art critic William Newton, McCrery reflected on the parallels between designing sacred spaces and teaching architecture.

“It takes about four years,” he said, “to design and build a church and four years to form the minds of young people who are assigned to you by God and their parents to educate them.”

He added that architects are called not only to be pious Christians but also to develop the skills needed to serve God through the craft of architecture, an approach reflected in the program's belief that “good architecture reflects God and elevates the human person.”

McCrery said his goal is for students to “learn how to create buildings that stand forth as excellent works of architecture” and to craft spaces that are beautiful and functional. 

McCrery noted that he originally expected commercial buildings to make up most of his career, but demand for his sacred architecture grew after he designed St. Mary, Help of Christians Church in Aiken, South Carolina.

“If you offer yourself, and your talents back to God,” he said, “you better stand back...because that wave is coming. It came — and it just hasn't stopped.”