The Changing Landscape of Church Design

From grand European cathedrals, to ultra-modern buildings with a sound system rivaling that of a concert venue, to the small country church with rows of wooden pews and a single isle down the center of the building; church styles and designs have taken on many forms through the years. What determines the style of a church? There are many factors that cultivate the look and shape that a church takes on including the time in history it is built, the area in which it is built, and the people and culture it is reaching. Christianity was not legally recognized as a religion until 313 A.D. by Roman Emperor Constantine, but the earliest verified church building can be dated back to somewhere in the 240s A.D. at a location called Dura Europos which was situated along the Euphrates River, (according to Archaeology magazine).

By Botsojoy at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Prior to this, churches generally met in homes or public areas where larger gatherings could be accommodated. Much of the furnishings and design of our modern day church and the churches throughout history came from the Roman Catholic Church. Pulpits, communion tables, pews, stages and more can be attributed to the season in the church after Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity and allowed for funds to be given for building purposes. These funds helped to establish church buildings and larger gathering places for church services to be held. As Christianity became an increasingly prominent and recognized religion, more and more churches were constructed and a variety of styles were adopted.

Cathedrals, parishes, basilicas and abbey churches all have their roots in interesting historical seasons and locations and each one tells a unique story. Many early American churches were built much smaller and with simpler designs than their European reflections as America was still developing. But all church buildings served a very important purpose; to provide a gathering place for the church to meet together, worship together, and be taught in unison. Today we have a beautiful mixture and

variety of church buildings ranging from Roman cathedrals with wooden pews, steeples with bells, and dark wood ornamentation over a thousand years old to converted strip malls with coffee shops, colorful church chairs, and drum sets and guitars on stage. While most churches that are built today follow a more contemporary building design, regardless of where you worship and gather together and what the building looks like, we can all appreciate the truth that has endured through every culture and style from the beginning of the church, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16, Bible).