Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church – Gödöllő

The city of Gödöllő growing since the 60s, and its Roman Catholic community outgrew the chapel of the Grassalkovich Hall that had been made uncomfortable by the increasing tourism. The old parish and the chapel of the hall couldn’t satisfy the needs of the community groups and the religious education any more. Therefore the Roman Catholic Parish of Gödöllő announced a competition that was won by Tamás Nagy.

architect: Tamás NAGY - LINT Kft.
collaborating architects: Tamás LÉVAI, Ildikó BUJDOSÓ
furniture: Anna MEDITZ
year of desing/construction: 2001/2004-2007
photography: © József HAJDÚ

According to the three functions, the building was also designed to be constructed in three parts: firstly the parish building was finished; it was consecrated on 18 September, 2004. While the first cycle was financed by the parish, the other two phases were financed by the diocese of Vác and the congregation. The complete building complex was consecrated on 25 August, 2008.

From the architect:

“The three elements of the building – the church, the parish and the community house – surround a regular quadrat-shaped courtyard. The courtyard will be soon a garden with trees and flowers and with a fountain in the middle. As long ago in the monasteries. Because the model comes from there. The difference is that this courtyard is opened in its fourth side – it is bordered only by a tracery fence – and this is an important message to the World: come in, we are open. If once the park is finished as well, the water of the fountain will flow as a vein to there and swell into a lake. This movement strengthens the previous idea: the connection between inside and outside is relevant. (…)

The central space of the church is oriented to the apse. As the three building wings surround the courtyard, so the „U”-shaped gallery does surround the apse, the main central point of the building. The apse, the only arc in the house differs not only by its form from the other elements, but by its colour as well. The 63 colour glass windows contain a hidden message. As the result of the dutch componist Alexander Skrjabin’s research he created a matrix, in which every single note matches to a single colour. Applied this note-colour code I wrote the gregorian tune of our prayer Kyrie eleison to the windows of the arc wall. It is a non-designed surprise that the colour glass windows are even burning when the sun does not shine outside. (…)

Building a church without a tower was stylish in the modern sacral architecture of the 20th century. I think the church should be a sign at the beginning of the 21st century in Hungary, in Europe, where the evangelism seems to be needed. I hope that the seven-storeyed tower of the Roman Catholic Church of Gödöllő will be the symbol of the presence.”

Translation by: Henrietta KANTA