Church architecture is a fascinating subject. It is not only about the building itself, but also about how people use it and what they do with it.
The first thing that strikes you when you enter a church is the silence. There’s something special about being in a place where people come to pray and reflect on their lives.
The architecture of churches has evolved over time, as new styles were introduced or old ones fell out of fashion. But what do all these styles mean? And why did they change?
The words “chapel” and “church” emerged in the 13th century. While both types of structures are associated with Christianity, there is a difference between a church and chapel.
The church has a two-fold meaning. It refers to the building (or architectural space) where worship occurs and also refers to the congregation that meets for worship within the building. Chapel, on the other hand, usually refers to a room within the church or another small space. Sometimes chapels can be free-standing or located in a non-religious building, such as an airport or hospital.
Cathedrals have some similarities to both churches and chapels. Churches and chapels can be non-denominational or of different Christian denominations, while cathedrals are usually specific to denominations that have bishops, such as the Catholic faith. In comparison to a church, cathedrals are generally more elaborate in architecture and act as the seat of a Bishop. A cathedral is the central church of a diocese. The architecture is usually grand, with vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, columns, pointed arches, and large stained glass windows. This article also discusses the characteristics and types of church architecture.
Parts Of A Church Architecture
Throughout history, church architecture has varied in design and size. For instance, churches have ranged from being very small, like the size of a small room, to very large, like the size of a large cathedral covering a campus.
Church architecture evolved over the centuries to fit new needs. For instance, churches from the 1st through 3rd centuries were more heavily influenced by Greek and Roman architecture. By the 3rd century, Christianity had flourished in the Middle East. The Holy Land, especially Jerusalem and Bethlehem, also had influences on church architecture.
Today, some churches have various architectural elements, while others do not. However, there are some common architectural elements among churches and cathedrals, such as:
- The cross is the principal symbol of Christianity. Although Christ is not depicted on the cross, the cross represents Jesus and the sacrifice He made for the sins of everyone when He was crucified. It also represents the faith of Christians in Jesus and the freedom and forgiveness given as a result of a belief in Christ. It is common to see these in most Christian churches.
- A crucifix is a cross with a depiction of Christ on it. These are more commonly seen in Catholicism.
- A portal is a decorative architectural frame found on the main entrance of the church or cathedral. It is usually decorated with sculptures and stonework.
- Buttresses are structures built against walls to provide strength. They are commonly seen in elaborate traditional cathedrals and churches.
- A pulpit is the raised platform or lectern that the minister delivers a sermon from within the church.
- Stained glass windows often tell Biblical stories by portraying images and symbolic figures like the cross. These windows also shine colorful light through the church when sunlight filters through.
- Altar/ Communion Table is the table used for Communion, which is a ceremonial remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It is commonly found within the church at the front, where the sermon or service is held.
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Steeples as Symbols
The steeple, the tall tower atop a church, is an important part of church design. The steeple points to heaven, further symbolizing that the prayers of church members will ascend to heaven. It also is a vertical architectural feature that causes the viewers’ eyes to look up toward God and heaven, while also making the lines of the church more vertical and grand.
A couple of different components make up the entire steeple structure. The order of components on a steeple from lowest to highest are as follows: tower, belfry, lantern, and spire. The tower itself connects to the roof. Next is the belfry, which houses the church bells. The belfry has openings in its walls so the sound of the church bells can adequately come through. These bells are rung for a variety of religious purposes, such as an indication of church service start times, prayer times, or a wedding. The next highest architectural component, the lantern, has openings around its sides to allow natural light in or it may hold a light within it. The lantern illuminates the structure beneath it. A steeple can have no lanterns, one lantern, or several lanterns in its structure. Finally, the highest architectural component is the spire. The spire is the pointy or tapering conical structure that crowns the steeple.
Church Design
Church design is heavily based on the needs of the congregation. Thus, the design can vary between churches based on different community needs. For instance, some of the architectural elements, like the stained glass windows and portals, may be prevalent in one church due to the fact that most of the congregation were raised in churches with these elements and see these elements as a need. Other churches, on the other hand, may not have these architectural elements because members of the congregation did not request them when the church was being constructed.
In addition, churches can have different sized sanctuaries (where services or masses are held) due to the size of the congregation. The sanctuary holds the chancel (where the homily or sermon is given) and nave (the central part of the church holding the seats or pews for the congregation). Baptisteries, dedicated areas for baptism, can also differ as pools or stands with bowls holding baptism water.
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Parts of A Church Interior
This lesson taught you all about the various aspects of and terms for architecture in Christian churches. Check out the following activities to learn more and see how much you can remember of what you just learned.
Vocabulary Quiz
This lesson contained a lot of vocabulary about churches and their contents. Create a set of flash cards or team up with a friend or classmate to study all of the bold terms in this lesson. You may find that associating the words with pictures helps you to remember which is which, as they are primarily visual components of the interiors and exteriors of churches.
Compare and Contrast
How do your own religious spaces compare to the ones described in this lesson? Though this lesson is about Christian architecture specifically, this prompt can work for Christians, people of other religions, and even people who are not religious. If you are Christian, do you worship in a church or a cathedral? Which elements listed in this lesson can be found in your church? If you are religious but not Christian, do you also worship in a specific space? How does that space compare to the ones described here? Are there any surprising similarities or differences? Finally, if you are not religious, answer this prompt by doing some research on another kind of religious space outside of the Christian tradition. Write your answer in the form of a compare and contrast essay.
Church Architecture Characteristics
In the Middle Ages, the terms “chapel” and “church” first appeared. Chapels and churches both have Christian associations, but they are not the same thing.
The term “church” can refer to two distinct establishments. The term “church” can mean either the congregation that meets in a particular building or the building itself. On the other hand, a chapel is typically a small room within a church or similar religious institution. A chapel may be freestanding or attached to a secular structure like a hotel or hospital.
Cathedrals are distinct from both churches and chapels in a number of ways. Cathedrals are typically unique to denominations that have bishops, such as the Catholic faith, whereas churches and chapels can be non-denominational or of different Christian denominations. Cathedrals, which serve as the seat of a Bishop, are typically more ornate in design than regular churches. To put it simply, a cathedral is the primary church of a particular bishopric. There are often high ceilings, flying buttresses, columns, pointed arches, and massive stained glass windows.
Types Of Church Architecture
The majority of the earliest man-made structures have been attributed to religious or ceremonial functions, such as burial or worship.
Even though they didn’t have fixed settlements, the earliest hunter-gatherers still set up massive standing stones as they traveled the countryside. Permanent housing was a necessity after the advent of agriculture. Stone circles delineated the boundaries of sacred grounds.
Early humans also erected substantial temples to their deities shortly after constructing the first permanent residences. As Christianity spread and permanent churches were built, the same principle held true. These magnificent medieval churches were once surrounded by shacks made of wood and thatch.
Many times over the centuries, a parish church has been renovated to adapt to changing architectural tastes, accommodate a larger congregation, or simply address the building’s inevitable need for repair. Arches, doors, and windows were frequently updated, so their design can be used to infer a church’s age.
Its primary styles are Saxon (597-1066), Norman (1066-1200), Early English (c. 1200-1290), Decorated (c. 1290-1350), and Perpendicular (c1350-1530).
St. Martin in Canterbury, which was built around 590 A.D., is the oldest English parish church still in use today.
The main parts of an old church have rarely been changed since the 1500s. While some of the stonework may have been replaced over the centuries and vestries may have been added, the basic layout remains the same.