Church Improvement Ideas

Anyone who is asked to think of a church will most likely visualize an old building with stained-glass windows, a steeple or two and plenty of wooden crosses. The fact is, churches have recognizable architectural features which make them easy to pinpoint. Yet many people would be surprised to know that many of the standard elements of church interior design have a long history behind them, and that churches are deliberately designed to follow specific religious, historical or symbolic traditions or rules. Of course, traditions may change or differ slightly from place to place, and some variations in the different aspects of church design do exist. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can be sure to see when visiting a church.

For one thing, you can expect to see stained glass windows. Incidentally, there is an interesting story surrounding church stained glass windows in the Middle Ages. At that time, stained glass windows were almost exclusively found in religious structures. Medieval thieves were known to pillage chapels and cathedrals simply for the valuable bits of colored glass to be gleaned from the windows. Today, religious stained glass artwork is still a staple and symbolic feature of church design, and although many of the ornate works of stained glass found in churches are expensive, they are no longer a popular target for thieves and vandals.

One recurring feature of Catholic, and sometimes Anglican and Lutheran churches, is the incorporation of Stations of the Cross into the interior design. The Stations of the Cross are 14 different scenes depicting the final hours of Jesus. They are usually in the form of illustrations, wall hangings, or wall relief sculptures arranged along the walls of the nave, which is the main body of a church. The Church prescribes a specific chronological order for the stations, and there is a standard depiction or scene for each station. There are also traditional titles for each station, although the stations may or may not be labeled.

Although the design elements of the Stations of the Cross vary drastically from church to church, all churches subscribe to the same traditional layout. One popular method is for the Stations of the Cross to be depicted in the stained glass panels of windows lining the walls of the church. Regardless of the mode of depiction, Stations of the Cross are and enduring and interesting feature of church interior design.

Another principle feature of all churches, is the altar. The altar is a place at the head of the church where the priest or pastor performs religious rites. The altar is usually designated by a table or other elevated structure. Church altars are most commonly made of marble, although some are made of wood. In most churches there will be a tabernacle on the altar. The tabernacle is a receptacle which holds the bread and wine used during the Christian rite of Communion. Sometimes, the word ‘tabernacle’ can refer to a carved or sculpted decorative niche in which the receptacle is placed. Tabernacles range from elaborate golden reliquaries to simple wooden boxes. Whatever the design, the tabernacle is typically found behind or next to the altar.

Of course all churches are designed with seating places for members of the congregation. Churches rarely have individual chairs; instead, they usually have pews, which are typically rows of long bench-like seats. Many pews have padded kneelers, which are cushioned boards for members of the congregation to kneel on during prayer. Pews have been the standard form of church seating for centuries.

These are just a few of the standard characteristics of church interiors. Although the details of church design will vary from place to place, certain traditional, unifying features define all professionally-designed church buildings.

About the Author

Chris Dohlander’s web pages are found on plenty of websites tied to information on window curtains themes. Working on his publications on window curtains matters and curtain ideas the reviewer expressed his deep knowledge on the topic.