How does the design of the church contribute to its purposes as a spiritual sanctuary?

Answer 1

First of all a true worshiper worships in spirit and in truth and they can worship anywhere, but as society became more stable, buildings dedicated to worshiping God and performing the sacraments were built. Someone once said "Atmosphere determines expectation." It is true in a restaurant, hotel, store or a church. Many years ago, in Western Roman Catholic Churches, the Stations of the Cross were depicted on the walls of the church. From Medieval times in Europe, stained glass windows to look through and murals on the walls were all there for an illiterate congregation to see the gospel. These older churches also had sculpture to convey the biblical teachings. Many churches were denuded of the iconography in the 800's during a period in the Eastern Orthodox church when church embellishment were considered by some to be excessive. These opinions were overturned at the Seventh Ecumenical Council. This iconoclastic spirit also effected churches in England which saw the removal of religious artifacts as part of the reformation movement. The result is that in America today, in the predominant Protestant churches, much emphasis is placed on artificial or natural lighting, images are projected on a large screen, crosses, warm spaces, open spaces, etc.

Early churches were based on a variety of shapes. Some were cruciform and others were bassilica style. An altar was at the front, evolving to a point that it was set behind a screen, separating the altar area from the nave. Religious pictures were placed on the screen, walls, ceiling etc (see Hagia Sophia). Religious art provided pictures into heaven, so to speak. Spaces were provided according to the tradition of a particular church. Architecture provided spaces of different sizes and shapes according to the need of the services.

Architecture can affect our minds and bodies as does any sensory experience. The design of buildings is a reflection of the way people worship and what they believe.

Answer 2

As a spiritual sanctuary, some symbolic themes are:

Doors:

East facing - some churches of today and most early churches had their doors facing towards the east as this was the direction in which the Lord was expected to come at His second coming - 'In that day the heads of men will bow down and worship towards the east...', '... and the general resurrection will take place.' ref: Apocalypse of Peter, Woodbrooke Studies.

Half oval - doors shaped like the ovens in which bread was baked, familiar to the early Christians of the Levant, signifying Jesus Christ the bread of heaven - see John 6:50, 'This is the bread coming down from heaven, that any one may eat of, and not die.'

Windows:

Pomegranate - the round windows decorated with pomegranate fruit or rosette designs are to remind Christians of the tree of life - of which the pomegranate tree resembles - see Life of the Blessed Mary.

Lancet - the lancet shaped windows are to signify protection by knights and men of valor - see Chronicles 12:8.

Half oval - windows shaped like ovens in which bread was baked, familiar to early Christians of the Levant, signifying the bread of heaven Jesus Christ - see John 6:50, 'This is the bread coming down from heaven, that any one may eat of, and not die.'

Height:

Height is used for effect in the interior of later church and cathedral buildings, to signify the heavens, of where spiritual sanctuary is.