Editing Church (building) (section)

=== Baroque architecture ===
[[File:St. Peter and St. Paul's Church 1, Vilnius, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg|thumb|Central [[nave]] of the [[Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Vilnius]], Lithuania, an example of a [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] church interior]]
The [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style was first used in Italy around 1575. From there, it spread to the rest of Europe and the European colonies. The building industry increased heavily during the [[Baroque]] era. Buildings, even churches, were used to indicate wealth, authority, and influence. The use of forms known from the [[Renaissance]] was extremely exaggerated. [[Dome]]s and [[Capital (architecture)|capitals]] were decorated with moulding, and the former [[stucco]] sculptures were replaced by [[fresco]] paintings on the ceilings. For the first time, churches were seen as one connected work of art, and consistent artistic concepts were developed. Instead of long buildings, more central-plan buildings were created. The sprawling decoration with floral ornamentation and mythological motives lasted until about 1720, in the [[Rococo]] era.<ref>{{cite book |last=Merz |first=Jörg Martin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eaC7yKbxj8UC&q=baroque+architecture |title=Pietro Da Cortona and Roman Baroque Architecture |date=2008 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0300111231}}</ref>

The Protestant [[parish]]es preferred Protestant churches often prioritize proximity between worshippers, the nave (main worship space), and the altar (often called a communion table).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parts of a church : inside : features : altar, windows, etc |url=https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/explore/why/intriguing-insides |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=www.nationalchurchestrust.org |language=en}}</ref> This is achieved through various architectural designs and practices, including moving the altar loser to the congregation, decreasing the distance between the entrance and altar, and employing simpler architectural styles that focus attention on the pulpit and communion table.