There are many parts of a church interior that create the big picture. From the stained glass windows and other interior design aspects to the furniture and walkways, every element represents something spiritual. Churches have historically been places of refuge, contemplation, and inspiration. Unfortunately, since the French Revolution in 1789, churches have also been targets for violence and destruction. The reasons for this are uncountable and complex—some religious, some political—but throughout history, the symbols and artistic expressions within churches that shout out “God” have suffered at the hands of those who broke the sacred trust of satire. Below is a list of 10 distinct interior parts of church buildings where you can find artistic representations of God. I had the opportunity to tour some interior spaces at my local church last week. While I was there, I took notes and photos of various design features. Below is a description of the most common items that you might stumble upon in an average church building, along with photos for reference.
There are many different parts to a church interior. The ceiling is one of the most important parts of a church interior, as it is often decorated with intricate paintings, sculptures, and other forms of decoration. The ceiling can also be used to communicate ideas or themes to parishioners. Another important part of the church interior is the floor. Churches can often have elaborate stone floors that serve as an elegant backdrop for the congregation and the altar. In some cases, these floors are even made from precious materials like marble or granite. Churches also have windows throughout their interiors so that light can enter the space. This helps create an airy feeling within churches on sunny days and makes them seem brighter overall during darker hours when there isn’t as much sunlight coming through windows outside on streets where people live nearby where they can see them every day when they go out walking around town after work to relax after being cooped up all day working at home all week long doing chores like cleaning dishes in kitchen sink, washing dishes, then drying them off with paper towels so they don’t get dirty again later when food gets stuck on them sticking out from bottom edge where water sits down there collecting dirt build-up over time
A church interior has many different parts. The first is the chancel, which is where the altar is located. The altar is a place where the priest performs mass and communicates with God. Another important part of a church interior is the nave, which is where all of the congregation sits. This area can be as large or small as needed, depending on how large your congregation is. Chancel lights are also a common feature in many churches, as they provide extra light during mass and other ceremonies that take place in this area.
Parts Of A Church Interior
The church has been a symbol of Christianity for centuries, with the literal “church” being a sacred space for worship and prayer. Church buildings have historically been used to hold services and provide safe and sacred areas for members of the congregation; these buildings have also served as places of sanctuary and peace. In order to accommodate various services, most Christian churches—including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Methodist churches—have several parts that make up their interiors. From the altar to the iconostasis to the crypts located underneath or near them, there are many features in church interiors that serve their own distinct purposes. Here are just some of these individual parts:
Parts of A Church Architecture
Altar
The altar is the center of a church’s interior, and it’s where the priest celebrates Mass. The word “altar” comes from Latin, meaning “high place.” This is because altars are usually taller than anything else in a church, as well as being raised above the floor.
The altar serves several purposes:
- It is where the priest offers sacrifices during Mass, such as bread and wine (which become Christ’s body and blood).
- It is where the consecrated bread and wine go after a bishop blesses them during Holy Week.
- The altar has been used for centuries as an object of prayer.
Aumbry
An aumbry is a small cupboard used to store sacred vessels. It can also be called a tabernacle, or in some cases, an ambry. The name “aumbry” comes from the Latin word for “receptacle,” which is what this piece of furniture resembles.
You’ll often find an aumbry near the communion table in the sanctuary of your church’s main worship area. It can serve as storage space for all manner of items, including linens and items used during communion services, such as chalices, patens and ciboria (these are special containers or dishes that hold bread and wine).
Bell Tower
A bell tower is a tower that is part of a church or cathedral and is used as a part of the church’s architecture. Bell towers can be found in many different shapes and sizes and may be part of one of the main architectural features of the building. The majority of these structures have bells hanging from them at least some distance from where they are rung.
Bema
The bema is the raised platform in the sanctuary where the altar is located. Its use varies by denomination, but most often it is where clergy stand during the service to perform sacraments and lead prayers. In many churches, it’s a large step up from floor level and is usually surrounded by railings or columns.
Chancel
The area of a church where the altar is located is known as the chancel, and an altar rail frequently separates it from the nave. The chancel was traditionally reserved for clergy, but in most modern churches, it is open to all worshippers. The chancel often contains special features such as stained glass windows, which are sometimes called “alter lights” or “altar lights.” The word “chancel” comes from Latin cancelli (meaning latticed window), which refers to a screen that separated a choir from other parts of the church during services.
In earlier times, when Catholicism was dominant in England and Ireland, altars were placed against walls so that only priests could approach them directly; laypeople worshipped at side altars or rood screens. This changed after Henry VIII split with Rome and established himself as supreme head of both Church and State: He ordered that new churches be built without rood screens separating choir stalls from naves because they symbolized papal authority over kingship.
Choir Loft
The choir loft is the platform at the back of the church where the choir sings. It’s also called a chancel or chancel arch, and it typically rises above the nave (the section of the church that houses most of its pews).
The purpose of a chancel is twofold: firstly, it provides an elevated space for clergy and other leaders in worship to stand during services; secondly, there’s often another space designated specifically for this purpose—called an ambry—which holds sacred vessels such as chalices (used for communion) and patens (used to distribute bread during communion).
Clerestory
A clerestory is a wall of windows in a church, usually above the nave (the main part of the church). It lets light into the church and can be used for decoration.
Crypt
A crypt is a place where the dead are buried. It is usually located under the church, but it can also be found above ground. The location of a crypt depends on its purpose and use in a church. In some cases, it may serve as a burial place for those who could not afford to be interred on consecrated ground or whose remains were otherwise excluded from burial within the church itself. In other cases—for example, when there was no room left in existing graveyards—it might have been built expressly as additional space for burial purposes.
The crypt was often located below the level of the floor of the nave (the main body) of an early medieval church; hence, during construction, its foundations would have been dug into those already laid for this part of building work rather than being constructed separately later on down into virgin soil outside its bounds like other kinds such as catacombs would have been done instead, which meant that their builders had more freedom over how these were laid out geographically because they didn’t need access ramps, etcetera
Font
A font is a receptacle for holy water. It usually holds a small amount of water, but it can also be used to hold oil or even wine. The font usually sits near the entrance of the church and is often decorated with carvings that are representative of baptismal rites, such as crosses and fish. Fonts are also made from many different materials—marble, stone, wood—but they all have one thing in common: they’re all containers!
Gallery
The gallery is an elevated platform for the choir, usually located above the nave and often on either side of it. The gallery is usually found on the south side of a church but can also be found on the north or west sides.
Iconostasis
An iconostasis is a screen in a church, usually made of wood and decorated with icons. It is usually located between the nave and sanctuary, although some churches have iconostases separating off other sections of the interior as well. The iconostasis has three doors: one at each side that can be opened to allow passage into the sanctuary, and one in its center that leads to an altar table or table (altar) which holds an altar cross (crucifix), candles, censer chains, chalice and paten (paten), etc.
The name “iconostasis” derives from Greek εικονοστασία—εικoνo meaning image and στασία being translated as partition or wall; thus it means literally “an image-making wall”. The most common English usage is “icon screen”, but other names are also used depending on local traditions: paramentale, sacrarium , templon , templum . In Slavic languages it is called okonska ikonostasa . In Old Russian it was known as yefimyane ; byyefimyana , yefimovaya stolba .
Lector’s Desk
The lector’s desk is a small reading desk or pulpit used by the priest, deacon, or layperson to preach and read from. The lectern is typically located on the right side of the altar at an equal distance from both sides so that everyone in the congregation can see it clearly.
Lecterns usually consist of three parts: a shelf for books and manuscripts; a slanted top surface for writing down notes (it was traditionally made out of leather); and handles on either side to help move it around if needed. In medieval times, lectors would often use only their left hand when holding up their bibles because people thought that this hand was more blessed by God than others!
Parts of A Catholic Church Interior
- Altar
- Aumbry
- Bell tower
- Bema (altar area) or chancel
- Chancel (high altar) or choir loft (choir seating)
- Clerestory (high-level windows to let in light without letting in heat) The clerestory is an arched opening in the roof that allows more light into a church. Often, the windows are decorated with stained glass and other imagery. In some churches, you will see many different scenes from the Bible depicted in stained glass on your way up to the sanctuary. If you look closely at these stained glass pieces, you may even find a unicorn!
This is also where we find our lectern and lector’s desk.
We’ve covered a lot of ground today, and we’re sure you’re feeling really confident about the different parts that make up all or part of a church interior. In case it was overwhelming, though, here are some key takeaways: first off, be sure to remember that churches aren’t all created equal. Depending on the specific religion, architecture style, and time period, there can be many variations in their structure. Altars are one of the most common features we see across time and culture; according to our research today, they go back as far as ancient Egypt! One trend we noticed was that many parts of churches were originally designed for acoustics or other audio needs—in particular, the choir loft and clerestory windows. Additionally, you might have noticed that paintings seem to play a major role in a lot of architectural choices (such as on an iconostasis). If you want to continue learning more about these parts and what they mean for different kinds of religions around the world—or if you just want to look at more pretty pictures!—then consider checking out some resources online or taking a trip to your local church.
Church Parts Names
Church buildings have been a cornerstone of Christian faith since the beginning; however, their size and construction have changed over the years. Early Christians met in homes or large public buildings to encourage each other and to maintain unity. As the church grew, the need for larger buildings that were designed specifically for the purpose of worship became obvious. In some cases, existing homes were remodeled to suit such purposes and in others, new buildings were constructed. The design of the church building itself is purposeful, incorporating symbolic meaning from the Bible.
Vestibule
In the Catholic church, the vestibule is usually the first area encountered upon entering the church. This area separates those who are reconciled to the church from those who are not. A baptismal, or pool of water used to baptize infants, is kept near the entrance on purpose, as baptism is the “door to the church” in Catholicism. Near the baptismal are shelves in the wall that hold oil used in different ceremonies, including baptism, confirmation and ordination. In other churches, there may be a foyer immediately upon entry or the doors may lead directly into the nave or worship center, as it may be called.
Nave
The nave is the area of the church where parishioners, or members of the church, sit or stand. In Catholic and Protestant churches, this area is comprised of pews. In modern churches, it is not uncommon to see rows of chairs or even tables with chairs in this area.
Sanctuary
In most churches, the sanctuary is in front of the nave and kept separate by railing if possible. This area is home to the altar, tabernacle, pulpit and a chair for the priest or pastor. The pulpit is generally raised and used during the sermon, or instructional time of the service. The altar is the place where the priest prepares communion, which is stored in the tabernacle when not in use. Modern churches may simply have a stage without an altar or tabernacle. In these churches, the pastor may sit or stand and the use of a pulpit will depend on the local church.
Choir Loft
In some churches, a raised area above the sanctuary or a set of risers behind the sanctuary may be occupied by the choir. This area is called a “choir loft” and was originally used for the choir to sing responses to the mass with the congregation. Now it is used by a choir to sing hymns or Christian songs.
Non-Traditional
Some non-denominational or modern churches may incorporate other elements into a church building that are more commonly found in community centers or banquet halls. This may include a coffee bar or snack area, nursery and schoolrooms for younger members of the church or prayer closets, where one can pray onsite but separately from the congregation.
Inside A Church Labelled
The interior of a Roman Catholic church is designed to make members of the congregation feel like participants in the Mass rather than just observers. Each part of the church has a symbolic meaning for Catholics and most furnishings in a Catholic church serve a specific purpose. Although Roman Catholic churches may have different architectural styles such as Gothic, Victorian, traditional and modern, certain elements are present in all Catholic churches.
The Vestibule
Just inside the entrance to a Catholic church is the vestibule. A large, standing font or pool used to perform the sacrament of Baptism is typically located to one side. The paschal candle stands next to the baptismal pool. It is lit at Easter and immersed in the pool as a sign of Christ come to life. Holy oil used in Catholic sacraments also is kept in this area. Smaller, wall-mounted holy water fonts are found near the interior church doors. Catholics bless themselves with holy water when entering and leaving the church to renew their baptismal promises.
The Nave
The interior church doors open up to the nave, or main room of a Catholic church. Members of the congregation are seated in this area, typically in rows of pews. Each row of pews has a kneeler so congregants may kneel at specific times during the Mass. In most churches, the walls of the nave feature 14 pictures or plaques, known as the Stations of the Cross, illustrating the story of Christ’s crucifixion.
The Sanctuary
The sanctuary is at the front of a Roman Catholic church. It is separated from the nave by an altar rail at which congregants may receive Holy Communion. A crucifix is given prominence in the sanctuary so it may be visible to all. On the left side of the sanctuary is the pulpit, from which the Gospel, or teachings of Jesus Christ, is read. On the right side is the lectern, from which the Epistle, or the word of the Apostles, is read. Chairs also are provided in the sanctuary for the member of the clergy celebrating the Mass, lay assistants and altar servers.
The Altar and Tabernacle
The church’s main altar is in the center of the sanctuary. It is typically constructed of natural stone. During Mass, it is covered with an altar cloth and traditionally lit with candles. The bread and wine symbolizing The Last Supper are consecrated on the altar during Mass using a chalice and paten, or bread plate. The Tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is housed may be found on or behind the altar. The sanctuary lamp, which symbolizes the presence of Jesus, is suspended above the Tabernacle. It is illuminated at all times except on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the two days preceding Easter.
Stained Glass and Statues
Catholic churches are often distinguished by their stained glass windows and statues honoring religious figures. These elements of a Catholic church reflect a time when the Mass was conducted in Latin and not all followers could understand the readings. Stained glass windows and statues helped illustrate the Bible’s words and drew the faithful into the experience of the Mass. Votive candles are often kept in front of the larger statues. Churchgoers with a special request or petition may light one of the candles and offer prayers for a saint’s intercession.
Different Types of Church Pulpit Displays
Part of the beauty of the church building includes the overall decor and the design of the interior. From rustic to ornate to functional to contemporary, each church has its own style. The church pulpit complements the rest of the furniture and stands as the focal point in each service as the preacher uses it. The pulpit, like a lectern or podium, holds books and papers but is more ornate and larger, adding decor beyond mere functionality. Several church pulpit displays offer different options to congregations.
Wooden
Wooden church pulpit displays, from very plain to ornately carved, grace many Christian churches. Crosses, other Christian symbols and even church names or logos embellish the front of wooden pulpits, which can be custom-made for a congregation. Some incorporate a combination of woods for a unique or contrasting look. Pulpits may be set on wheels for easy movement, bolted in place or freestanding, depending on the needs of the congregation.
Clear
Other churches, especially more contemporary ones, choose glass, acrylic and Plexiglas pulpits, which may allow the congregation to view the pastor more easily and give the illusion of a larger stage. Clear church pulpits can offer greater functionality. At the church’s direction, the manufacturer may etch these with a Bible verse, logo, name or Christian symbol. However, Plexiglas scratches easily, so some congregations opt for a combination of of acrylic and wood.
Granite
While not as commonly used, some churches choose granite for a church pulpit display. The underlying meaning signifies that the Bible is like a rock. Granite suggests power and permanence and comes in a variety of colors, even pink.
History
During the first days of the church, when Christians met in homes, pulpits were not needed. In the Middle Ages, pulpits were used to hold the sacraments, not for preaching. During the Reformation, the church’s focus on the pulpit increased as it symbolized the authority of the Bible, church and minister. In modern times, the pulpit may carry historical and symbolic meaning or may just be chosen because of its functionality.
Cost
As of January 2011, the cost of pulpits ranges from $500 to $5,000, depending on the quality and type of material. Acrylic pieces usually cost less than their wooden or granite counterparts. Congregations may look online or can check into used furniture sites for less expensive alternatives.