Reimagining Sacred Space

The following is a summary of Fr Hugh Logan’s presentation: ‘Reimagining Sacred Space: A Spatial Analysis of Youth Disengagement in the Church’. The presentation was made for the CTCT’s (Conference on Theology in the Caribbean Today) 23rd biennial conference which was held in Barbados from July 7-11.

Fr Logan, originally from Petit Martinique, was ordained a diocesan priest in 2008 and presently ministers in the Diocese of St George’s-in-Grenada. He is also the Zonal Coordinator for the Catholic Biblical Federation Caribbean Zone and teaches biblical studies at the Seminary of St John Vianney & the Uganda Martyrs.

Edward Soja’s Trialectics of Spatiality, based on Henri Lefebvre’s spatial theory, divides space into three interconnected dimensions: Firstspace, Secondspace, and Thirdspace.

‘Firstspace’ refers to ‘perceived space’, the tangible, physical environment. In the Caribbean, ancient church buildings illustrate this space through their European-inspired architecture, such as Gothic and Romanesque styles.

These structures tell stories of colonial influence and historical continuity. However, while these spaces appear purely physical, Soja reminds us they are shaped by historical, cultural, and socio-economic forces.

‘Secondspace’ is ‘conceived space’, or how space is mentally and symbolically interpreted. For older generations of Caribbean Catholics, these church buildings evoke nostalgia and reverence, recalling a time when the Church was a spiritual and societal anchor.

Conversely, many younger individuals see these same spaces as symbols of colonial oppression, violence, and institutional failure, both historical and recent. This generational divide reveals contrasting ideologies and emotional relationships to the same physical structures.

‘Thirdspace’, or ‘lived space’, arises where the physical and imagined spaces meet, often in tension. Here, real struggles and personal disillusionment take root, especially among youth who question the Church’s moral credibility and relevance. The physical church, once a place of sanctuary, now often feels alienating or oppressive.

This tension manifests in declining church attendance and a growing preference for outdoor or alternative worship settings. Many young people feel disconnected from traditional sacred spaces because of the heavy historical and emotional weight they carry.

As such, the Church is challenged to deconstruct and reimagine its spaces and mission, engaging authentically outside its traditional walls. To reconnect with contemporary society, especially the youth, the Church must reclaim its relevance not through marketing, but through genuine witness in public life and everyday experiences.