What’s on in Divinity

Sacred Space: Conflict and Convergences | Call for proposals

Trinity College Chapel is one of the last important examples of historicist gothic revival architecture in the twentieth century. Completed in 1955 to a design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who was also the architect of Liverpool Cathedral, the chapel represents a significant continuation of the gothic revival tradition that flourished through the 19th century and into the 20th.

To commemorate this anniversary, Trinity College is hosting an interdisciplinary conference on the theme “Sacred Space: Conflicts and Convergences.” Scholars and the wider Trinity College community will explore the multifaceted concept of sacred space and its role in contemporary society.

The conference seeks to foster dialogue across disciplines and welcomes contributions from experts in architecture, music, history, religious studies, theology, environmental studies, and related fields. It will explore how sacred spaces are conceived, shaped, and contested, particularly within academic and urban contexts and in relationship to the natural environment and Indigenous communities.

Presentations may explore the history, architectural design, multi-sensory shaping, artistic decoration, and functional use of sacred spaces, including venues for liturgical worship and music. Topics might also include the relation between intentionally constructed and “found” sacred spaces, the role of sacred spaces in community identity formation, their connection to both special and everyday rituals, and the tensions and complexities surrounding sacred space in pluralistic contexts.

The event will begin with a keynote address on Wednesday evening, November 19, 2025. This will be held as the annual Larkin-Stuart Lecture, one of Trinity’s premier annual events organized together with St Thomas Church and designed in this instance to engage not only conference attendees but also the broader public. The keynote address will focus on the history and significance of Trinity College chapel itself—including its architecture, its role and purpose within the campus and wider community, and its future—and set the stage for the in-depth discussions that follow in the conference the next day.

Thursday’s full-day program will feature up to 12 presentations (20 minutes each), thematically arranged in four sessions. These sessions will be loosely associated with motifs derived from four principal architectural zones of the Trinity College chapel:

SANCTUARY – presentations focusing on the meaning of sacred space—both built and natural—and on sacred spaces as places of refuge, security, healing, and well-being.

NAVE – presentations focusing on sacred spaces as places of journey, growth, and experience, and as shaped by rituals and everyday community practices.

NARTHEX – presentations focusing on the intersection and interrelated ecosystems of spaces—both built and natural—and on the distinction, thresholds, and connections between sacred and non-sacred space.

CHOIR LOFT – presentations focusing on how sacred space is shaped by sound (including but not limited to music).

Participants will have the opportunity to exchange insights from various disciplines, engage in robust dialogue, and reflect on the enduring and evolving significance of sacred spaces today.

In addition to scholarly discussions, the conference will celebrate Trinity College chapel as a living example of sacred space, offering attendees the chance to experience its history and architecture through a guided tour (including of the college’s archives), a worship service, a celebratory concert, and moments of reflection.

Moreover, on Wednesday afternoon, a guided campus tour will be offered, covering Indigenous spaces at the University of Toronto, including St Catherine’s Chapel (Gi-Chi-Twaa Gimaa Nini Mississauga Anishinaabek AName Amik) at Massey College, a Chapel Royal associated with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (https://www.masseycollege.ca/the-chapel-royal/).

Presentation proposals of 100-150 words are now being accepted and are due by February 28 2025. Please include a current condensed CV with complete contact information, and submit it to: gabriela.pinho@utoronto.ca