Sacred Spaces in Liminal Places: Airport Chapels and Religion in Transit

Abstract

In an age of frequent flying, airports are sometimes characterised as "non-places," experienced as liminal spaces that are "neither here nor there." Yet, there is a widespread assumption that air travellers need or want some sort of spiritual services. Using a British regional airport (Glasgow), two European hub airports (Amsterdam and Brussels) and Singapore airport as initial case studies, this paper explores the negotiation of different beliefs, worldviews, functional needs, aesthetics, and local, regional, and national identity involved in the creation, claiming, and marking of sacred space within airports.