Places of worship are also community gathering spaces. From church spires and tiered Buddhist roofs to the modernist lines of Temple Emanu-El, religious buildings in Hawaii express and support a multiplicity of cultures as well as faiths. From Jan. 28 to March 10, a series of seven free Thursday lunchtime lectures will discuss the history and architecture of Hawaii’s places of worship as well as the need to preserve them.

Challenges include the duplication of historic craftsmanship and materials, according to William R. Chapman, director of the Historic Preservation Program in the Department of American Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which co-sponsors the annual expert lecture series with the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and the Friends of Iolani Palace.

The talks will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Von Holt Room at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 229 Queen Emma Square. The first topic is “Stained Glass: Preservation and Protection.” Other lectures will look at the Church of the Crossroads, Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, St. Augustine Church Waikiki and more. Bring lunch and learn.