Places of worship have existed through time, some dating back to 1000BC. They continue to thrive, and even more are being built each day.

In this PowerPoint, 3 places of worship are mentioned, with a brief factfile.

Note: Just click on the red arrow (bottom right) to go to the next page.

The Taj Mahal An assortment of churches

Contents• Po Lin Monastery Factfile-pg 3

• Po Lin Monastery Picture Gallery-pg 4• Westminster Abbey Fact file-pg 5

• Westminster Abbey Picture Gallery-pg 6• St John’s Cathedral Factfile-pg 7

• St John’s Picture Gallery-pg 8• Conclusion

Po Lin Monastery FactfilePlace of worship name: Po Lin MonasteryDate it was completed: 1924Designer: 3 Buddhists (name(s) unknown)Location: Lantau, Hong KongBrief description:Po Lin Monastery is actually a few statues and temples put together. A white memorial gate, standing proud at the entrance, is one of the only original structures at the Po Lin monastery. There is a cauldron and pedestal in the square, in which people put their charred incense in. Of course, there is the infamous Big Buddha statue. It is made entirely made of bronze, stands 26 metres tall (including lotus petal). It weighs a whopping 202 pounds! A path leads to one of the few temples, the two-storey Welto temple, where one prays. This temple is the perfect example of Chinese classic archaeology. All the statues that stand around this exquisite site are all in positions of worshipping.

Po Lin Monastery Picture Gallery

The Big Buddha

Monks gathering for a ceremony

Welto Temple Bronze cauldron White Memorial Gate

An idol located at the top of the stairs leading to the Big Buddha

One of the few temples at the Monastery

Westminster Abbey FactfilePlace of worship name: Westminster AbbeyDate it was completed: Uncertain, around 10th and 16th centuryDesigner: John ThirskeLocation: London, Great BritainBrief description:This famous church, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster, has achieved global fame for its Gothic spirals and altars and for its reputation for being the traditional coronation and burial place for British monarchy. The Abbey also houses the throne on which the monarchs are coroneted. The person who is responsible for the coronation is the Archbishop of Canterbury. Westminster Abbey had its named changed to The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, but it is still called the original name (Westminster Abbey). Every week a Mass is held, where religious Christians read the Bible and pray, while a priest preaches to them, standing on the altar, on which beautiful pictures are carved. This church would definitely look grand!

Westminster Abbey Picture Gallery

The altar where the Mass is held.

The Abbey from above, along with the Big Ben

The Abbey at night

Tomb of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during WWIIWelto Temple

Tourists inside the Abbey

An elaborate design inside the main tower

St John’s Cathedral FactfilePlace of worship name: St John’s CathedralDate it was completed: 1849Designer: Bishop George SmithLocation: Garden Road, Central, Hong KongBrief description:St John’s Cathedral is the first Christian Church built in Hong Kong, and has a history of being the headquarters for Japanese soldiers during WWII. Inside this declared monument are three stained glass windows. The weekly services that are held in this influential church are conducted mainly in English, Cantonese and the Filipino language of Tagalog. What surprises people is the fact that the ground on which St Jonh’s Cathedral is built on is one of the few freehold pieces of land in Hong Kong. All other privately owned land was, and still is under the lease of the Hong Kong SAR Government. St John’s cathedral is also the seat of the present Archbishop and Primate of Hong Kong's Anglican (Episcopal) Church (a long title!)

St John’s Cathedral Picture Gallery

The Cathedral during WWII

The Cathedral in the 1990’s

The cathedral from the outside

In the altar

A bird’s eye view

A Tagalog service being held at the cathedral

The Cathedral is A8 on the HK Heritage Trail

Conclusion

As you have seen on this PowerPoint, places of worship are both decorative and religious. They can be anything from cathedrals, to mosques, to temples. They may look different on the outside,

and have different rituals and speeches, but there is one thing they share; their influence on

the religion they belong to.

Thanks for watching!!!