Why does a church look the way it does?
A church is not just a room with seats. Christians use the word church for the community of believers and also for the building where they meet. Every part of the building is planned to help people worship God, and the design reflects what that group of Christians thinks matters most. That is why a grand medieval church, a plain chapel and a domed Orthodox church look so different, even though they all belong to Christianity.
Key terms:
- Nave: the main part of a church where the congregation sits or stands.
- Sanctuary: the area around the altar, the holiest part of the building for many Christians.
- Cathedral: the main church of a diocese (a region looked after by a bishop), where the bishop has his seat.
- Nonconformist chapel: a church of a Protestant group that is separate from the Church of England, often very plain inside.
- Icon: a painted holy picture, used in prayer and worship, especially in Orthodox churches.
- Iconostasis: a screen covered in icons that separates the nave from the sanctuary in an Orthodox church.
Different kinds of church building
⛪ Medieval parish churches and cathedrals
Many are built in the shape of a cross, with the nave as the long upright and the arms of the cross stretching out on either side. The shape is a reminder of the cross of Jesus. The altar is usually at the east end, so the congregation faces east. Christians have often linked the rising sun with the resurrection of Jesus. A tower or spire points up towards heaven. Stained glass windows show Bible stories and saints, and statues add to the decoration. Cathedrals follow the same ideas on a much larger scale.
🏢 Plain nonconformist chapels
Many Protestants believe that the word of God matters most and that decoration can distract from it. Their chapels are often plain, with clear windows and few or no statues. The pulpit, the raised stand where the sermon is preached, is in the centre or at the front, so everyone can see and hear the preacher. The design says: listen to the Bible.
🎭 Orthodox churches
Many Orthodox churches have a dome, which stands for heaven reaching down to earth. Inside, the walls are covered in icons. The iconostasis marks the border between the everyday world of the nave and the sanctuary, which is seen as holy. Orthodox Christians believe that worship joins earth with heaven, so the building is meant to feel beautiful and mysterious.
⭕ Modern and multi-purpose buildings
Some newer churches are round, with the altar in the middle so that people gather around it as one family. Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, opened in 1967, is a well-known round example. Other new churches are multi-purpose halls with movable chairs, so the same space can be used for worship on Sunday and for other activities in the week. These designs stress community and being useful to the people around the church.
So the common features are a place for worship, a central focus (altar or pulpit) and symbols of faith. The differences come from what each tradition stresses: sacrament and mystery, the word of the Bible, or community.
Features inside a church
💦 The font
The font holds the water used for baptism. It is often near the door, because baptism is the way into the Church. Everyone who enters passes it and is reminded of their own baptism. It helps worship because baptisms happen in front of the whole congregation, who welcome the new member.
📖 The lectern
The lectern is the stand that holds the Bible, from which the readings are given. It shows that the Bible is the word of God and that listening to it is part of worship. Many lecterns are shaped like an eagle with its wings spread, which suggests the message of God being carried out to the world.
🍞 The altar or communion table
This is the table where bread and wine are shared in Holy Communion, the service which remembers Jesus. Catholic, Orthodox and many Anglican churches call it the altar, and many see it as a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ. Many Protestant churches call it the communion table and stress the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples. Either way, it is the focus of worship and is often placed where everyone can see it.
✝️ The cross
The cross is the main symbol of Christianity. A crucifix shows Jesus on the cross and is common in Catholic and Orthodox churches, because it stresses his suffering and sacrifice. An empty cross is common in Protestant churches, because it stresses that Jesus rose from the dead. Both help worshippers to think about what Jesus did for them.
Two more features are worth a line each. The pulpit is where the sermon is preached. A baptistry is a pool used in Baptist churches for baptism by full immersion, which is why it is a feature of their buildings instead of a font.
Learn this
The design of a church and the features inside it show what the community believes is most important. Medieval churches stress the cross and heaven, chapels the preaching of the Bible, Orthodox churches icons and the mystery of worship, and modern churches community.
How churches are used
Different Christian communities use their buildings in different ways, but most include several of these:
- Worship: regular services, including Holy Communion (the service where bread and wine are shared in memory of Jesus) and prayer.
- Rites of passage: baptisms, weddings and funerals.
- Groups: Sunday school, youth clubs, toddler groups and Bible study groups.
- Serving the community: many churches run food banks or host lunch clubs.
- Concerts and events: choirs, music evenings and community gatherings.
- Quiet prayer: many churches stay open so anyone can come in and pray alone.
For some Christians the building itself is holy and set apart for God. For others the building is just a convenient meeting place, because the real church is the people. This is why some communities are happy to use a hall for worship and are not worried about decoration. Quakers, for example, meet in simple meeting houses with no altar or pulpit.
Common mistakes
- Saying all churches look the same. Always give at least two different types and say why they differ.
- Describing a feature without saying why it matters. Do not just say the font holds water. Say it is for baptism, which is the way into the Church.
- Mixing up the crucifix and the empty cross. The crucifix shows the body of Jesus and stresses his sacrifice. The empty cross stresses the resurrection.
- Saying a plain chapel is less holy or less serious. Its simplicity is a deliberate choice to keep attention on the Bible.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two features of a Christian church building. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why the altar or communion table is important for Christians. [6 marks]
(c) 'All churches should look the same.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view and your own reasoned opinion. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) A church often has a font near the door (1), which is used for baptism, the way into the Church (1). It also has a lectern (1), which holds the Bible so the word of God can be read in worship (1).
(b) The altar or communion table is the focus of worship because it is where bread and wine are shared in Holy Communion (1). Christians believe that this remembers the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples (1). Catholics and Orthodox Christians also see it as a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, so the altar is treated with great respect (1) and is often at the centre or east end (1). Many Protestants call it the communion table and stress remembering Jesus, which is why it is placed where everyone can see it (1). It also joins the community together, because everyone shares in the same meal (1).
(c) Plan. For: the cross and the shared features such as a font, a lectern and an altar or table unite Christians; a common design could show one faith, as the Church is one body; the Last Supper, shared by all Christians in Holy Communion, is the same everywhere. Against: Orthodox churches use icons and a dome to show heaven, while chapels stress the Bible with a central pulpit, and each design reflects the community's beliefs, such as Protestant stress on the word of God; worship style differs among Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Quakers; the building is only a tool and the real church is the people. Conclusion: it is better that churches differ, because the design shows what each group believes about worship, although the shared cross reminds them they are one faith.
Exam tip
In an 'Explain why' question, do not stop at describing the altar. Add 'because' and link it to a belief, such as the Last Supper or the sacrifice of Christ.