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, 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 the Chapel’s 70th 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.

Source: Trinity College Archives

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 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 the broader 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:

Participants will be able 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/).