can a church be considered a public art space?

I like the idea that any space can be a public gallery, as long as it is showing a piece of art within a structure. For example is there any reason why a Church could not be a gallery? Most churches have art work displayed within them on a permanent bases, and have done this right from the beginning in some form or another, from paintings, wall hangings to stain glass windows. Even the earliest places of worship depicted in the bible describe having hangings covering the walls. I have found a few churches such as St Mary le Bow which from time to time have art exhibitions with in them, it seems especially around the time of lent, and St Pauls Cathedral housed an exhibition this summer by Yoko Ono. So technically a church owns art work on a permanent bases, and from time to time curate or have touring exhibitions which are then free for the public to view, or on occasion charge for admission as they did for the Yoko Ono exhibition.

I am still annoyed that I missed the opportunity to see Charlie Mackesy working within a church, but I am determined to try and find out whether he is still working on the piece, or it is currently being exhibited in the church. I would like to see more churches opening their doors to art, and feel this maybe happening more often as churches are trying to become more involved with their local communities.

I have exhibited with a church, and within a christian service which was held in a lecture theatre. Pershaps this is why I feel churches should be considered more often as a place of art exhibitions.

My family church back home last to end lent had their own version of the stations of the cross, where different members of the church formed something to be put around the church to form allow for inspiration, encouragement, and for a chance to meditate or praying focusing on the verse for that particular station.

The Waterfall by Hannah Honeycombe

The waterfall has water coming through the painting, which then runs over the top of the perspex following the shape of the river on the painting, before falling over the first box, forming a waterfall onto the next level. This results in a quiet but calming sound of moving water, and if your close enough to the piece you may on occassion feel a free splashes as the water hits the bottom. This piece is meant to be a reflection on the beauty that exists in God's world.