Imbued with a sense of reverence, not to mention all those beautifully vaulted spaces, cathedrals and other sacred spaces can be stunning settings for art installations of all kinds, from ethereal light projections to complex arrangements of string. Abandoned churches get the revival of a lifetime when painted floor-to-cupola with vivid murals, while the ruins of long-lost cathedrals are resurrected in ghostly wire forms.

‘Our Colour Reflection’ by Liz West, UK

Hundreds of mirrored discs in a spectrum of colors hover above the floor of England’s former St. John’s Church in Scunthorpe, reflecting rainbow light all over the interior. The installation by Liz West is gorgeous when taking it in as a whole, but step closer and you’ll see that each disc is like a miniature work of art in itself, containing its own tiny composition of architectural elements.

Ghost Church Made of Wire by Edoardo Tresoldi, Italy

A long-lost early Christian basilica is resurrected in ghostly form, its contours traced in wire for a translucent effect. Located in the historic park of Siponto in the Southern Italian region of Puglia, this installation by Edoardo Tresoldi lets modern-day visitors explore the church as it is thought to have appeared centuries ago.

Video Mapping by Marcos Zotes, Iceland

Artist and architect Marcos Zotes uses the facade of Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland’s largest church, as a canvas for projections of monumental proportions in a show called ‘Rafmognu? Náttúra.’ Moderating the color and movement through a midi controller, the artist created a dynamic visual experience that made the architecture seem to come alive.

11 Mirages to Freedom by Okuda San Miguel, Morocco

An abandoned and dilapidated church gets a striking makeover with the addition of a vivid mural covering nearly all of its exterior surfaces. Street artist Okuda San Miguel painted ’11 Mirages to Freedom’ on the outside of this church in Morrocco as an interactive display honoring its past as well as its structural beauty.

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Holy Art 13 Spectacular Secular Installations In Sacred Spaces

All that remains of the old Curon Venosta is the tip of a bell tower, emerging from Lago di Resia like a tombstone for the flooded town. The alpine village was inundated with water shortly after World War II when officials decided to join three pre-existing lakes into one large man-made lake. The entire town is still down there, filled with sand.

Located in the Italian Alps, Curon Venosta (known in Austria as Graun) was rebuilt at a higher elevation. The point of joining the three lakes together was to create a hydroelectric dam. In addition to the town of Curon Venosta, 163 houses and nearly 1,300 acres of land planted with fruit were flooded. The church from which the Campanile di Curon rises was built in the fourteenth century. The bell tower has been left to stand as a historic memorial, and was restored in 2009 to repair cracks.

The tower, as seen above, is surrounded by sand, during recent renovations at which time the lake level was lowered.

In the winter months, when the lake freezes over, it’s possible to walk right up to the spire. Local legend has it that though the bells were removed during a restoration in the 1950s, they can still be heard ringing inside the tower. The project was originally planned in the early 1900s, plans drawn in the 1910s and grants given in 1920s with work started in the late 1930s, but its full execution was delayed in part by the second World War thus not finished until the 1940s.

When it comes to architecture, churches have always had some of the most awe-inspiring, beautiful designs. Each culture and religion has added their own influence on the church design, some making use of the traditional Roman architecture, and some innovating entirely unique designs. Below is a collection of photographs from seven amazing abandoned churches from around the world.

South Bend, Texas

(image via sooterkin)

What was once a small farming town in Young County, Texas stands today as a relatively well preserved ghost town. South Bend can be found at the intersection of SH-67 and FM-701. The town was abandoned in the early 1920’s when a small oil rush drove many inhabitants to new lands in search of better paying work. Very few of the town’s buildings are still inhabited, with 75% of the town empty and abandoned.

Williams County, North Dakota

(images via jpiepkorn)

Located in Williams County North Dakota, this church also has a small cemetery around back. Named St Olaf Lutheran Church, the building looks to have  abandoned for quite some time now. Explorers report that the inside is quite bare, except for an organ that was used during ceremonies and some stray pews.

Bokor, Cambodia

(images via breakfreshground, adventurevacationtrip, rickmann, andybrouwer)

This abandoned house of worship is located on Bokor Hill in Bokor, Cambodia. The church is of the Catholic tradition and is comprised mostly of red brick. In 1979, the church was the site of a major battle between Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese forces. The Khmer Rouge defended the church quite well and it suffered no serious exterior damage. The exact construction date of the church is hard to determine, but judging by the other construction that took place in the area during the 1920s, it is reasonable to assume that the church was erected around the same time.

Gary City Methodist Church

(images via cityeyesphoto, brnation)

Located in Gary City Indiana, the Gary City Methodist Church was closed in the 1970’s due to a lack of attendance and was damaged in a fire in 1977. Surprisingly, the church still stands defiantly against the wrath of time and elements. This great church has two floors and was built in traditional roman fashion. Tall arches, pillars and well intact stained glass (over the main altar) serve to preserve this church’s gorgeous essence.

Detroit Michigan

(images via brnation)

Located in Detroit Michigan, the Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Church was built in 1923. The church served a new religion led by George William Hurley which combined aspects of spiritualism, catholic ritual, holiness preaching, voodoo and astrology. The church still stands today, one of the few that remain in the area after Hurley’s death. Despite the passing of the leader, the religion continues to grow each year In the southwest and California.

Silvertown, East London

(images via urban75)

Today, St Mark’s Church in Silvertown London has been fully restored and no longer appears lonesome and abandoned. However in the 1980’s the church was in the state it appears above. Constructed in 1892, the church served the community ads a beautiful place of worship until its closing in 1972. In 1981 it was ravaged by fire and much of it was destroyed or seriously damaged.

Kayakoy, Greece

(images via deadcitystories, gofethiye, panoramio)

Located in Kayakoy, Greece, this church, as well as the entire town has been totally abandoned since 1923. Most people were forced out during the war between Greece and Turkey, leaving behind their homes and this church. Tall ceilings decorated by elegant sculptures line the inside of the main cathedral. One can find may examples of traditional Greek art meshed with Roman architecture throughout the majority of this rather large church. The interior has survived to present day in relatively good condition, inviting us to explore its history first hand.