When people think about churches they commonly refer to the Christian churches. There are some very well known elements of interior design when looking at churches. Some of these churches look very similar inside.

Many components of a churches interior design are religious, although some of them have changed slightly over the years most of it has remained very similar. Back in medieval times it was common for a church to be broken into and the stained glass to be stolen. The stained glass windows were seen as very valuable. Stained glass windows are still a very large part of church design, however they aren’t really perceived as being that valuable anymore, even though they are.

Something which you will find in almost every church is the stations of the cross. When you first enter a church one of the first things that will catch your eye will be a series of pictures along the wall which are depicting a story. You will see one of the pictures is Jesus carrying a cross, and then one of the others is Jesus on the cross. These pictures tell a story and are in a certain order.

There are 14 stations of the cross, the image is created based on the title which the church created. The title of stage one is “Jesus is condemned to death” the image will therefore show the Romans sentencing Jesus to death. These images can either be created in stained glass and put into windows, or more often put on plaques and hung from the wall. This is a very important part of church design.

The Altar

Another thing that you will find in any church is the altar, this Is normally made from marble, although they can also be made from wood. A church simply cannot exist without an altar, so this is one of the most important parts of the whole church. Another thing that no church could do without is the tabernacle. This tabernacle is where the bread and wine are put for communion. Some of these are just simple, while others are very ornate boxes. This box will normally sit next to or behind the altar. A tabernacle whether elegant or simple is vital for any church.

The other very important part of a church is the seating, the congregation will obviously have to sit or kneel down somewhere. These seats are known as pews. A pew is actually a fairly simple form of seat, it’s just a long bench with a padded section for kneeling down. Most churches do not use seats as pews have been traditional for hundreds of years and after all why change something that works perfectly well.

Church interior design can be quite complicated, unlike just throwing up a set of country ruffled curtains. There are so many reasons behind some of the interior design elements that to understand it completely you would need to have a very long discussion with a vicar.

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Church lighting is an important, yet often overlooked, aspect of creating an inviting environment within the worship facility. People are directly affected by the ambiance, or lack thereof, of the environment they are in. Temperature, noise, visual presentation, and comfort all play a part in how people will feel and react. It is important for churches to provide an environment absent distraction in which people can feel comfortable in order to be receptive to the message. Suffice it to say, the topic of church lighting is infinitely more complex that just pointing lights on the stage.

It is not uncommon to overlook church lighting when attempting to connect the congregation to those on stage. The correct design of church lighting will provide depth and warmth to those who are on stage. In fact, good lighting will increase eye contact, as well as allow people to see the facial expressions of those on stage. All of these things are important in enhancing the experience of those watching and listening. Each and every lighting element must be strategically placed in order to avoid harsh shadows, conflicting colors, or inadvertently splashing a projector screen.

The installation of the best church lighting systems require a blend of art and science that results in a versatile and effective array of lighting solutions capable of meeting the diverse needs of the church. The lighted environment must be appropriately bright and aesthetically pleasing in order to enhance the presentation and not distract from it. People will feel much more at home with warm, soft and colorful lights as opposed to harsh, oppressive overhead lights. In addition to installing quality lights, designing a versatile catwalk system also plays a part, as easy access for maintenance and operation is a big plus on larger projects. Lights should be mobile and adjustable in order to fit churches changing needs.

We advise caution against cobbling together a quick, cheap church lighting solution. This quick and dirty type of an approach can obviate any meaningful investments that have been made into other audio visual components. A great lighting system will connect people, helping them to be receptive and involved in the service. Don’t ignore this important aspect of your stage and sanctuary. Lighting will make your church welcoming and inviting to all who walk through the doors.

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The Christian church has been around for centuries. This is not just in reference to the institution, but to the physical building itself that we have all become accustomed to referring to as the church. It’s very easy to know when you’re in a Christian church, but you may not have ever stopped to actually ponder the reasons why. The design of various structures has gone through massive changes over the centuries, but Christian churches have maintained a level of consistency that has helped people to familiarize themselves with the concept of the church, which lends in large part to how we know for sure when we’re in one.

While the emphasis on what we hold important or even valuable within the actual physical structure of a church may naturally shift throughout the years, consistency of design remains. It was not unusual, in medieval times, for a church to be plundered for it’s stain glass windows, as these were held in great value, and treated like treasure in those days. Today, of course, they are not quite the focus of foul play that they may have once been, although they certainly still are considerable in cost to put in.

Consistency of design, however, is no accident when it comes to the church. There are several actual rules that must be followed when building a church. One of the main staples of the church is what is commonly referred to as the “Stations of the Cross”. Take a walk through any Christian church, and you will see along the walls, several scenes depicted one way or another that invariably tell the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. These scenes, pictures, or however they end up being displayed, must be shown in a particular order so as to give continuity to the story.

Altogether there are 14 Stations of the Cross. Each of these 14 Stations comes with a simple description from the Church itself. The 1st stage is always “Jesus is condemned to death”. Naturally, what the viewer will see is a scene depicting Jesus’ condemnation by the Romans. The stations themselves may sometimes appear as stained glass windows that line the church, but frequently will be depicted as elaborate and ornate plaques that hang on the walls of the church.

Another fixture that you’ll find in every church is the altar. It is most commonly made out of marble. Other churches may have altars made of wood, but more often than not you will find that Christian churches are stocked with marble altars. You absolutely cannot have a church without an altar, so count on it being a critical aspect of church design. Along with the altar, you can also be sure that you’ll find a tabernacle. This is the area of the church that holds the ritual bread and wine that is used for communion. Tabernacles can vary greatly in design, going from being a simple box while others can be incredibly elaborate pieces. Regardless, they will most often be found sitting behind, or next to, the previously mentioned altar.

And of course, no church is complete without it’s traditional rows of pews. Most are familiar with the concept of a pew. It is a long bench, most often with a padded place to kneel at the foot of each row. Traditionally churches do not have individual seating. The pew has been a mainstay of the church for centuries, and is not likely to change anytime soon.

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