Perhaps the most striking thing about a church, from an architectural point of view, is the sheer number of parts that are assembled to create it. This can be confusing for those who are new to the culture and language of church architecture. Our chart will show you some typical names given to major parts of churches, and we’ll use those names to describe these parts in our article.
While a church may seem like one complete structure, it is not. A church is actually a collection of architectural parts that work together to create the ultimate place of worship. These architectural parts are: altars, chapels, end walls, entrances, fonts, glass windows, guilded areas, pulpits and tribunes.
In sacred architecture and the evolution of the Western church form, you must be aware that some elements are essential to the liturgy and others support it. This fact has enabled an architect to combine artistic and structural forms in a way that is sometimes difficult to separate from each other. Some art objects may have originally decorated a building and have since lost their original use, becoming purely decorative. Treasure boxes and reliquaries fall into this group, which you must respect as an architect when designing modern churches, cathedrals or basilicas.
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Architectural Parts of a Church
In architecture, a church (from Greek: ναός, translit. naós “holy place”) is a building used for Christian religious activities, particularly worship services. The term in its architectural sense, is most often used by Christians to refer to their religious buildings. In mainstream practice the term ‘church’…
The architectural parts of a church are the external and internal parts that make up its physical structure. These include the nave, chancel, transepts, and apse.
The nave is the main space in a church that runs between the entrances on each side. The chancel is the part at the front of this space where services are held. Transepts are cross-shaped areas that are perpendicular to the nave and chancel. The apse is an area behind the altar in which worshipers sit during services.
The architectural parts of a church are the exterior, interior, and foundation.
The exterior of a church is where the congregation meets with God. It’s also where they celebrate their faith, including baptisms and weddings. The exterior of a church usually has many layers of meaning that may include references to sacred traditions or biblical stories.
The interior of a church is where the congregation prays and worships God. The interior of a church can be filled with beautiful artwork and sculptures that tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth.
The foundation of a church is what keeps it stable and safe from earthquakes or other natural disasters such as floods or tornadoes.
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Evolution Of Church Architecture
The architectural parts of a church are the physical elements that make up the building. These include:
-The foundation, which is the base of the structure. It supports the weight of the building and keeps it from sinking into the ground.
-The walls, which are made up of bricks or stone and form the outer shell of a building. They also help to keep out moisture and wind, which can damage your church.
-Roofs, which protect against rain and snowfall by covering up your roof with tiles or shingles made out of metal or wood (depending on what type of material you choose). They also provide shelter from sunlight so that people can stay cool during hot days when they’re inside worshiping God together!
Churches are a defining feature of the American landscape. Their architecture is as diverse as their congregations and offers a fascinating glimpse into time periods, cultures, and values. From the grand cathedrals in Europe to small country chapels, churches have captured our imagination for centuries.
In this article, we’ll discuss church architecture in general and get familiar with some of the most notable features you’ll find around the world.
Parts of A Church Interior
Nave
The nave is the central part of a church and is where most of the congregation sits. It’s usually lined with pews or benches, but sometimes there may be chairs instead.
The priest often stands in front of the altar in this area (altar being another architectural term for the table where communion is offered). The ancient Greek word for “nave” means “ship”, which makes sense because it’s sort of like a ship’s hull: one main beam that holds everything together
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is the area where the altar is located, and it’s also the area where clergy perform the service of the mass. The congregation sits in pews surrounding this space. The clergy are seated on a raised platform called a presbytery that juts out into this central part of a church.
Door
The door is a place of transition, protection and entry. A church door leads you in to worship God and leaves you with His peace. It protects those inside the church from the outside world by keeping out people who do not belong there. The door is also an opening into our spiritual lives as we enter into fellowship with Christ’s Body through it each week.
The door serves as an exit for us when we leave during communion or at any other time during services when communion isn’t happening (such as funerals).
Rectangle
Rectangles are one of the simplest geometric shapes. They can be defined by a length and width, or a height and width. The rectangle has four right angles and four straight edges (the edges that run parallel to each other), making it easy to construct with simple tools such as a ruler and compass.
Rectangles have been used in architecture since at least the Roman Empire, where they were frequently used in building construction as well as in decorative detail such as mosaics. In modern buildings, rectangles are often found around windows or doors; sometimes they’re even used on their own! Rectangular windows allow light into interior spaces with minimal distortion since light travels in straight lines through glass when unimpeded by air or other materials like water vapor molecules (which absorb some wavelengths).
The rectangle is also useful for its ability to provide strength when combined with other shapes like triangles or trapezoids—this makes it ideal for supporting heavy weights without buckling under pressure from above or sagging from below over long periods of time at high temperatures which cause steel beams beneath concrete slabs produced during construction along with asphalt roofing shingles installed later down
Quadrangle
A quadrangle is a square or rectangular area that has buildings surrounding it. It can be used for many purposes, including a garden or courtyard (which is called an inner quadrangle). A quadrangle can be found in many different types of buildings, such as churches and universities.
Quadrangles are typically open spaces that allow light to enter through their windows and glass doors.
Gable
A gable is a triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is decorated varies widely across regions and periods, with rectilinear gables being most common in medieval Europe and decorative curve-topped gables in Tudor architecture.
Gable ends are often capped with pediments or occasionally topped with finials (e.g., pinnacles). These latter may be called finial walls.
Many American colonial-era houses feature an L-shaped plan that includes a central hall flanked by parlor rooms in the front section, a passageway through the center of the building to connect these rooms on either side and a chimney on one end (often considered to be “the peak”).
Steeple
A steeple is a tall tower on a church building. It contains a bell and can be used as a lookout, weather vane, lightning rod, clock and sundial. The steeple may also contain bells that are rung to call parishioners to services and other occasions.
Chancel
The chancel is the area of the church where the altar and choir are located. It is considered to be the most sacred part of a church, as it is here that mass (or communion) is held. Typically, railings or fencing enclose this area and prevent people from entering unless they are there for a specific reason. The choir usually sits here during mass and sings hymns during this time.
Belfry
A belfry is the part of the church building that holds bells. The bell tower is a part of the church building where bells are hung; it’s usually located at the top of the church. Often, you can see two or more towers rising above a single roofline—this is called an “Italian campanile,” and when it appears in a house or other secular building, it’s often referred to as a “bell tower.”
Church Architecture Is Distinct And Historic
Church architecture is distinct and historic. Church architecture is a reflection of the culture and beliefs of the people who built it, as well as its time period, location and style.
Church Architecture Characteristics
A recent newspaper profile of Elevation Church, a megachurch located in Charlotte, North Carolina, led some readers to ask why the church uses an orange inverted-V logo instead of the traditional cross (the church responded by saying, “Our logo represents the resurrection of Christ”).
Elevation isn’t alone in making such radical changes. Many modern congregations have abandoned or modified design features that have historically been associated with churches. Here are nine things you should know about traditional (mostly Protestant) church architecture:
- Steeple — The addition of a steeple to a church often had three functions. First, the vertical lines of the steeple helped to visually enhance the lines of the church, directing the viewers’ eyes vertically to the heavens. Second, steeples gave church buildings—which were usually short and squat—an aesthetically pleasing feature that enhanced the harmony of the design. Third, steeples were often the highest architectural feature in an area, which provided a landmark for people to find the church from any part of town.
- Church bells — Located within the steeple, church bells often serve as a communication device for the local townspeople. The primary purpose of ringing church bells was to signify the time for worshippers to gather for a church service. However, the bells could also be used for secular purposes, such as warning people of a fire or an approaching army.
- Nave – The nave is the central and principal part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance, sometimes called the narthex, to the pulpit area, sometimes called a chancel or presbytery.
- Chancel — In some church designs, the chancel is the front part of the church from which the service is conducted. The pastor(s) and choir are often located in these areas, usually on a raised dais. In some churches, however, the chancel and the nave area are not architecturally distinct.
- Baptistry — Until about the 6th century, baptisms were administered in a hall or chapel called a baptistery that was situated close to, or connected with, a church. By the 10th century, baptism by affusion (pouring liquid over the head) became a common practice so baptismal fonts often replaced baptisteries. Many churches that practice immersion baptism, such as Baptist churches, have a special baptistry pool that is built into the floor or wall of the chancel area.
- Altar/Communion Table — The altar is the table in the chancel that the clergy use for Communion. During the Reformation, some people felt that the term “altar” was theologically misleading and began to refer to it as a Communion table. Anglicans decided that both terms were correct, because it is the altar from which we receive the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and because it is the table on which we celebrate Communion. Today, Anglicans and Lutherans generally call it the altar, while churches in other Protestant traditions tend to call it a Communion table.
- Stained glass windows – The term “stained glass” applies to colored glass made with metallic oxides as well as glass on which colors have been painted and then fused in a kiln. The use of stained glass windows in churches gained popularity during the mid-12th century. The two-fold purpose was to create a “heavenly light” that symbolized the presence of God in the church and to serve as a “Poor man’s Bible,” to teach Biblical stories to those who were illiterate. The use of stained glass fell out of favor during the Reformation, but was revived in the mid-19thcentury when the Gothic style once again became popular in Europe and in the United States.
- Pulpit – The pulpit is a raised platform or lectern in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon. The first reference to a pulpit is found in a letter of Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, in the mid-3rd century. Prior to the Reformation, the majority of pulpits were on the congregation’s left, also known as the gospel side. During and after the Reformation, the pulpit was repositioned to the center of the sanctuary to emphasize the centrality of God’s Word
- Cross/Crucifix: Catholic churches use a depiction of the cross (called a crucifix) with an image of the suffering Jesus. In contrast, most Protestant churches tend to use a bare cross to reflect the fact that Jesus overcame his suffering and death and is risen. (Lutheran churches, which sometimes display a crucifix, are a historical exception to this general rule.)