Consummation

The Consummation that I am referring to is the memorial of the last supper represented in the ritual of the Eucharist.  The place of consummation is the Dias.  The rite of the Eucharist takes place here but we also participate by consuming the meal here. The monument of the Altar is complex and involves many…

Maturation

To Mature in our understanding of faith, to Mature in our relationship to god is what we all want to achieve through our presence in worship so I ask how does the architecture of the church support our goal of Maturation?  I was once told by a critic in college that it is OK for…

Illumination

Illumination; the act of spiritual or intellectual enlightenment.  On a recent trip to Italy I took a fresh look at spaces and art of churches seeking out design that captured the essence of “Illumination”.  What I am talking about… light? Art?   Well, yes… but more than that, I went looking for that design that uses…

City of Churches

Charleston South Carolina was host to 300 plus architects attending the 2014 CRAN symposium.  CRAN put on a well thought out comprehensive event in a great location that allowed my wife and I to explore Charleston and see these wonderful churches in their unique urban context.  

Does Design Matter?

What does the design of a church “say” about the congregation? Traditional- Historic, older churches well established, denominational, represents continuity, established customs.  The architecture follows rules of a particular style so it can be assumed the rules of the church will be taught and followed within.  Many communities appreciate the design, detail and appointments of…

Churches in New England

On a recent college tour with my highschool senior I snapped a few pictures on campuses in New England.

Adding Rails Adds to Welcome Statement

Most churches include a welcome statement in their bulletin but many churches are not welcoming in subtle ways.  Many churches are missing critical elements of accessibility but more important a critical elements of welcoming.  Getting to the communion rail or up to the lectern to speak should not have to require an usher for help, this…

Worship Center Addition- Before and After

First UMC Kearney had constructed their sanctuary to allow for the removal of the North wall to expand the sanctuary. The wall included a truss spanning the entire North wall.  The orignal intention was to double the size of the sanctuary and move the worship center to the West wall creating a gabled roof and traditional…

New Church Building, how to begin? Step 3

Step 3 Phasing, Design and Construction Phasing is an important part of any Master plan that includes mid-range and long-term facility goals.  Indicating the approximate order of facility construction helps to explain the logic behind the plan and how the next steps can be taken. Accurate phasing is not possible without knowing the financial capacity of…

New Church Building, how to begin? Step 2

Step 2  Finding the Land and Master Planning Finding the land is the next step in the process.   I have a previous post outlining some pitfalls to watch for so take a look at that but consider the Vision and Mission and what may be required to reach the goals listed there.  The location and size…

Church Master Plan Cost Estimating- who should do it?

Cost estimating is a critical part of any master planning effort.  This can be provided by the architect or a professional cost estimator but I would like to advocate for a process that includes a professional contractor. Why would a Church want to such a thing? Because if provides an opportunity to begin a partnering…

New Church Building- how to begin? Step 1

Step 1:  Vision and Mission The first step in any church building project is to recruit the building committee. I have earlier posts regarding the makeup of the members and how many should be on the committee so I will not repeat that here but the building committee needs to be prepared for a potentially long…