The Bells of Epiphany Church
This morning, I waited for Verizon in a building above the Church of the Epiphany. Built in 1844 on G street in Northwest, the church stands hidden between office buildings, its garden and carillon are its only imprint on the office landscape. Never have I marked time so closely than now, with the tones of Handel’s “I know that my Redeemer liveth” streaming from the bells at the quarter hour.
I imagine that perhapse if I worked here, it might get tiresome after while, but for today, it is welcome austerity. A reminder of the analog in the midst of digita. The feeling of a retreat within the noise and the hustle. It’s why we build parks, set to simulate the natural and to preserve the original state in an idealized way, I suppose. Remind ourselves that we are but building The Machine in a Garden.
I especially love the red doors, for some reason. The garden is a great little spot for us downtown office drones to eat lunch on a nice day. I’ve worked near this church for seven years now, and I never get tired of hearing the bells. Not being religious, it’s a completely aesthetic thing for me – it’s nice to hear a bit of beauty during the humdrum day…
Jenn, the Red Doors are a sign of sanctuary, I believe, they had special meaning in WWII in France as houses of the French Resistance.
Ooo, cool, I didn’t know that! Thanks Tom!