Churches around the world are not only houses of worship but offer a wide array of architectural styles and forms, from modest structures, such as St. John's Church in Waimate North, New Zealand, to the striking artistic innovations and ornamentation of buildings such as the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.
The word church comes from the Old English cirice, meaning a place of assembly for Christian worship, and evolved into the Middle English word kirke, then kirk, before the modern English church, having the same meaning. Churches were first established in the homes of believers in the 1st century, and the oldest church building extant is the Dura-Europos Church located in Dura-Europos, Syria, dated to between 233-256.
The Dura-Europos Church is a fine example of the earliest buildings used in Christian services as it was formerly a residence and was converted into a house of worship. From these modest buildings, churches evolved into grand architectural masterpieces, designed to draw one's thoughts from the mundane to the sacred and ineffable, whether experienced from within or from outside.
During and after the Protestant Reformation (1517-1648) churches were simplified by Protestant congregations with a focus on the pulpit from which the minister would deliver the sermon, while Catholic churches continued to impress upon their congregations the majesty of God and the overall experience of communing with the divine.
This gallery presents various churches from around the world, from the simple to the ornate, but all intended to elevate people's hearts and minds in contemplation of a higher power.
The Dura-Europos Church is the oldest Christian house of worship extant. Formerly a private home, it was converted into a church between 233 and 256. The church was discovered by French archaeologists in the excavation season of 1931-1932 in Dura-Europos, Syria. The site was significantly damaged by ISIL when that group occupied the territory in 2014, but some parts of the church still stand.
Churches appear in the 1st century as homes of believers in which Christian worship services were held. Buildings constructed specifically as houses of worship appear between the 1st and 2nd centuries.
What is the oldest church in the world?
The oldest church in the world extant is the Dura-Europos Church in Dura-Europos, Syria.
What is the largest church in the world?
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, constructed 1506-1626, is the largest church in the world.
What caused the change in the design of churches?
Churches were often - not always - ornate and heavily ornamented buildings until the Protestant Reformation of 1517. Afterwards, Protestant congregations constructed more modest structures with a focus on the pulpit and a reduction or elimination of iconography and ornamentation. Catholic churches, generally, continued to be built with an emphasis on the grandeur and majesty of God.
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