Editing Church (building)

{{short description|Place of worship for Christians}}
{{redirect2|Church building|Church house|the building in Poughkeepsie, New York|Church Building|other uses|Church House (disambiguation){{!}}Church House}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
[[File:Basilica cattedrale di San Giusto Martire (IV) (39452708702).jpg|thumb|[[Trieste Cathedral]], a church dedicated to [[Justus|Saint Justus]], completed in 1320. It featured [[icon]]ography of [[Madonna (art)|the Virgin and Child]].]]
{{Christianity}}
[[File:P1050306 semilarge.jpg|thumb|A village church in [[South Sudan]]]]
A '''church''', '''church building''', '''church house''', or [[chapel]] is a building used for [[Christian worship]] [[church service|services]], [[Christian religion|Christian religious]] activities. The earliest identified Christian church is a [[house church]] founded between 233 [[AD]] and 256 AD.<ref name="Snyder 2003 128">{{cite book |last=Snyder |first=Graydon F. |title=Ante Pacem: Archaeological Evidence of Church Life Before Constantine |publisher=Mercer University Press |year=2003 |pages=128}}</ref>

Sometimes, the word ''church'' is used erroneously to refer to the [[place of worship|buildings of other religions]], such as [[mosques]] and [[synagogues]].<ref>Use of the term [https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/362167/Manichaeism "The Manichaean Church"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503193144/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/362167/Manichaeism |date=3 May 2015 }}, ''Encyclopædia Britannica''</ref><ref>"The term church is found, but not specifically defined, in the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The term is not used by all faiths; however, in an attempt to make this publication easy to read, we use it in its generic sense as a place of worship including, for example, mosques and synagogues." [https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407231943/https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf|date=7 April 2019}}, ''US IRS Tax Guide for Churches & Religious Organizations''</ref> ''Church'' is also used to describe a [[Church (congregation)|body or an assembly of Christian believers]], while "the Church" may be used to refer to the worldwide Christian religious community as a whole.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/church-Christianity|title=Church &#124; Definition, History, & Types &#124; Britannica|date=22 June 2023|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112195517/https://www.britannica.com/topic/church-Christianity|url-status=live}}</ref>

In traditional [[Christian architecture]], the [[plan view]] of a church often forms a [[Christian cross]] with the centre [[aisle]] and seating representing the vertical beam and the [[Church architecture#Characteristics of the early Christian church building|bema]] and [[altar]] forming the horizontal. [[Tower]]s or [[dome]]s may inspire contemplation of the [[heaven]]s. Modern churches have a variety of [[architectural style]]s and layouts. Some buildings designed for other purposes have been converted to churches, while many original church buildings have been put to other uses. From the 11th to the 14th century, there had been a wave of church construction in [[Western Europe]].

Many churches worldwide are of considerable historical, national, cultural, and architectural significance, with several included in the list of [[List of World Heritage Sites by religion|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].<ref name="Tsivolas 2014 3–4">{{cite book|title=Law and Religious Cultural Heritage in Europe|first=Theodosios|last=Tsivolas|year=2014|isbn=9783319079325|pages=3–4|publisher=Springer International Publishing}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - cyrican.jpg|thumb|{{lang|ang|Cyrican}} is an [[Old English]] word for churches and church property]]
The word ''church'' is derived from [[Old English]] {{lang|ang|cirice}}, 'place of assemblage set aside for Christian worship', from the [[Proto-Germanic language|Common Germanic]] word ''kirika''. This was probably borrowed via [[Gothic language|Gothic]] from [[Ancient Greek]] {{transliteration|grc|kyriakon doma}}, 'the Lord's (house)', from {{transliteration|grc|[[kyrios]]}}, 'ruler, lord'. {{transliteration|grc|Kyrios}} in turn comes from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Indo-European]] root {{lang|ine-x-proto|*ḱewh₁-}}, meaning 'to spread out, to swell' (euphemistically: 'to prevail, to be strong').<ref>{{cite web |title=church |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/church#etymonline_v_11358 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.etymonline.com}}</ref>

The various forms of the cognates to ''church'' in various languages reflect the word's linguistic roots in [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] origins. For instance, in early [[Germanic languages]] such as [[Old High German]], the word evolved into ''kirihha'', highlighting its spread through the Christianization of Germanic peoples. This etymological journey illustrates how the concept of a place of Christian worship was linguistically adapted as Christianity expanded across [[Europe]]. Additionally, the use of the word in early Christian communities emphasized the association of the building with its dedication to [[God]].<ref name="OEtymDChurch" />

The Greek {{transliteration|grc|kyriakon}}, 'of the Lord', has been used of houses of Christian worship since {{c.|AD 300}}, especially in the East, although it was less common in this sense than {{transliteration|grc|[[Ecclesia (ancient Greece)|ekklesia]]}} or {{transliteration|grc|[[Basilica|basilike]]}}.<ref name="OEtymDChurch">{{cite web |title=Church |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=church |access-date=8 August 2016 |website=Online Etymology Dictionary |archive-date=31 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731005655/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=church |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
Churches have evolved from early house churches (pre-4th century) to grand basilicas after Christianity's legalization in 313 AD. The [[Romanesque period]] (10th–12th century) featured thick walls and round arches, while the Gothic style (12th–16th century) introduced pointed arches and flying buttresses for taller, light-filled structures. Later styles include Renaissance symmetry, Baroque ornamentation, and modernist minimalism.

Common church features include:

* Nave and apse – The main hall and altar area. Modern churches blend tradition with function, from minimalist designs to contemporary community spaces.
* Transept – Forms the cruciform shape.
* Clerestory windows – High windows for natural light.
* Steeples and towers – Often house bells.
* Vaulting – Structural support using arches.

Modern churches blend tradition with function, incorporating minimalist designs and contemporary community spaces while preserving a sense of originality and faith.

===Antiquity===
[[File:Church of Saint Simeon Stylites 01.jpg|thumb|South facade of the [[Church of Saint Simeon Stylites]] in Aleppo, Syria, is considered to be one of the oldest surviving ruins of a church building in the world.]]
{{Further|List of oldest church buildings}}
The earliest archeologically identified Christian church is a [[house church]] (''domus ecclesiae''), the [[Dura-Europos church]], founded between 233 AD and 256 AD.<ref name="Snyder 2003 128"/>

In the second half of the third century AD, the first purpose-built halls for Christian worship (''aula ecclesiae'') began to be constructed. Many of these structures were destroyed during the [[Diocletianic Persecution]] in the early 4th century. Even larger and more elaborate churches began to appear during the reign of Emperor [[Constantine the Great]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hlqUCgAAQBAJ&q=early+church+buildings&pg=PT70 |title=The Contemporary Church and the Early Church: Case Studies in Ressourcement |date=February 2010 |publisher=Pickwick Publications |isbn=978-1606088999 |editor-last=Hartog |editor-first=Paul}} (Chapter 3)</ref>

===Medieval times===
From the 11th through the 14th centuries, a wave of [[cathedral]] building and the construction of smaller [[parish church]]es occurred across [[Western Europe]]. Besides serving as a [[place of worship]], the cathedral or parish church was frequently employed as a general gathering place by the communities in which they were located, hosting such events as [[guild]] meetings, [[banquet]]s, [[mystery plays]], and [[fair]]s. Church grounds and buildings were also used for the threshing and storage of grain.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Levy |title=Cathedrals and the Church |page=12}}</ref>

==== Romanesque architecture ====
[[File:Trier Dom BW 24.JPG|thumb|[[Trier Cathedral]], Germany]]
Between 1000 and 1200, the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] style became popular across [[Europe]]. The Romanesque style is defined by large and bulky edifices typically composed of simple, compact, sparsely decorated geometric structures. Frequent features of the Romanesque church include [[Arch|circular arches]], round or [[octagon]]al towers, and [[Capital (architecture)|cushion capitals]] on pillars. In the early Romanesque era, [[coffer]]ing on the ceiling was fashionable, while later in the same era, [[Groin vault|groined vaults]] gained popularity. Interiors widened, and the motifs of sculptures took on more epic traits and themes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Toman |first=Rolf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g3HgsgEACAAJ&q=romanesque+architecture |title=Romanesque: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting |date=2015-04-30 |publisher=h.f.ullmann |isbn=9783848008407}}</ref> Romanesque architects adopted many Roman or early Christian architectural ideas, such as a cruciform ground plan, as that of [[Angoulême Cathedral]], and the [[basilica|basilica system]] of a nave with a central vessel and side aisles.<ref name=dkp>{{cite book|title=The Ultimate Visual Family Dictionary|year=2012|publisher=[[DK (publisher)|DK Pub]]|location=New Delhi|chapter=Architecture|pages=468–469|language=en|isbn=978-0-1434-1954-9}}</ref>

==== Gothic architecture ====
[[File:Ani-Cathedral, Ruine.jpeg|thumb|The [[Cathedral of Ani]], one of the founders of the Gothic style of architecture]]
[[File:Frauenkirche München abends.jpg|thumb|The [[Munich Frauenkirche|Frauenkirche]] in Munich is a largely [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], medieval church.]]

The [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style emerged around 1140 in [[Île-de-France]] and subsequently spread throughout Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gothique ou Opus Francigenum : une architecture sans frontières venue de France (Le) - EHNE|url=https://ehne.fr/en/encyclopedia/themes/arts-in-europe/architectural-styles/gothic-or-opus-francigenum-architecture-france-without-borders|website=EHNE|access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref> Gothic churches lost the compact qualities of the Romanesque era, and decorations often contained [[symbol]]ic and [[allegorical]] features. The first [[pointed arch]]es, [[rib vault]]s, and [[buttress]]es began to appear, all possessing geometric properties that reduced the need for large, rigid walls to ensure structural stability. This also permitted the size of windows to increase, producing brighter and lighter interiors. [[Nave]] ceilings rose, and pillars and steeples heightened.<ref name=wd>{{cite book|last=Watkin|first=David|year=1986|title=A History of Western Architecture|publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]|language=en|isbn=978-1529420302}}</ref><ref name=dkp/> Many architects used these developments to push the limits of structural possibility – an inclination that resulted in the collapse of several towers whose designs had unwittingly exceeded the boundaries of soundness. In Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, it became popular to build [[hall church]]es, a style in which every [[Vault (architecture)|vault]] would be built to the same height.

Gothic cathedrals were lavishly designed, as in the Romanesque era, and many share Romanesque traits. Bagneux Church, France (1170–1190) exhibited both styles - a Romanesque tower, and Gothic nave and choir.<ref name=dkp/> Several also exhibit unprecedented degrees of detail and complexity in decoration. [[Notre-Dame de Paris]] and [[Reims Cathedral]] in France, as well as the church of [[San Francesco d'Assisi, Palermo|San Francesco d'Assisi]] in [[Palermo]], [[Salisbury Cathedral]] and the [[wool church]]es in England, and [[Santhome Church]] in [[Chennai]], [[India]], show the elaborate stylings characteristic of Gothic cathedrals.

Some of the most well-known gothic churches remained unfinished for centuries after the style fell out of popularity. One such example is the construction of [[Cologne Cathedral]], which began in 1248, was halted in 1473, and didn't resume until 1842.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Frankl |first1=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LBZ6781vvOwC&q=gothic+architecture |title=Gothic Architecture |last2=Crossley |first2=Paul |date=2000 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=0300087993}}</ref>

=== Renaissance ===
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the changes in ethics and society due to the [[Renaissance]] and the [[Reformation]] also influenced the building of churches. The common style was much like the Gothic style but simplified. The [[basilica]] was not the most popular type of church anymore, but instead, [[hall church]]es were built. Typical features are columns and classical [[Capital (architecture)|capitals]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=Christy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=70m1KbuD5YoC&q=renaissance+architecture |title=Renaissance Architecture |date=2013-02-28 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=9780192842275}}</ref>

In [[Protestant]] churches, where the proclamation of God's Word is of particular importance, the visitor's line of sight is directed towards the [[pulpit]].

=== 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.

==Architecture==
{{main|Church architecture}}
[[File:Norwich Cathedral from Cloisters, Norfolk, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The view of the spire of [[Norwich Cathedral]] from the [[cloister]]s, in Norfolk, England]]
A common trait of the architecture of many churches is the shape of a [[Christian cross|cross]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Petit |first=John Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dqIZAAAAYAAJ |title=Remarks on Church Architecture ... |date=1841 |publisher=J. Burns}}</ref> (a long central rectangle, with side rectangles and a rectangle in front for the [[altar]] space or sanctuary). These churches also often have a [[dome]] or other large [[vault (architecture)|vaulted]] space in the interior to represent or draw attention to the heavens. Other common shapes for churches include a circle, to represent eternity, or an [[octagon]] or similar star shape, to represent the church's bringing light to the world. Another common feature is the [[spire]], a tall tower at the "west" end of the church or over the [[crossing (architecture)|crossing]].{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Another common feature of many Christian churches is the [[Orientation of churches|eastwards orientation]] of the front altar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Institute for Sacred Architecture {{!}} Articles {{!}} Sacred Places: The Significance of the Church Building |url=http://www.sacredarchitecture.org/articles/sacred_places_the_significance_of_the_church_building/ |access-date=2017-08-16 |website=www.sacredarchitecture.org |archive-date=16 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816233033/http://www.sacredarchitecture.org/articles/sacred_places_the_significance_of_the_church_building/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 
Often, the altar will not be oriented due east but toward the sunrise.{{clarify|date=July 2023}} This tradition originated in [[Byzantium]] in the fourth century and became prevalent in the West in the eighth and ninth centuries. The old Roman custom of having the altar at the west end and the entrance at the east was sometimes followed as late as the eleventh century, even in areas of northern Europe under Frankish rule, as seen in [[Petershausen (Constance)]], [[Bamberg Cathedral]], [[Augsburg Cathedral]], [[Regensburg Cathedral]], and [[Hildesheim Cathedral]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sX8w667tblMC&dq=%22XI+Jahrh+fortgedauert%22&pg=PA12 Heinrich Otte, ''Handbuch der kirchlichen Kunst-Archäologie des deutschen Mittelalters'' (Leipzig 1868), p. 12]</ref>

==Types==

===Basilica===
{{main|Basilica}}
{{further|Minster (church)}}

The [[Latin]] word ''basilica'' was initially used to describe a [[ancient Rome|Roman]] public building usually located in the [[Forum (Roman)|forum]] of a Roman town.<ref name="OXFORD1">[https://books.google.com/books?id=Te2dAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA117 ''The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Art and Architecture''] (2013 {{ISBN|978-0-19968027-6}}), p. 117</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Institute for Sacred Architecture - Articles- The Eschatological Dimension of Church Architecture |url=http://www.sacredarchitecture.org/articles/the_eschatological_dimension_of_church_architecture |access-date=8 April 2016 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209094141/https://www.sacredarchitecture.org/articles/the_eschatological_dimension_of_church_architecture/ |url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[Roman Empire]] became [[Edict of Thessalonica|officially Christian]], the term came by extension to refer to a large and influential church that has been given special ceremonial rights by the [[Pope]].<ref>{{cite web |title=basilica {{!}} Etymology, origin and meaning of basilica by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/basilica |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.etymonline.com |archive-date=17 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817020716/https://www.etymonline.com/word/basilica |url-status=live}}</ref> The word thus retains two senses today, one architectural and the other ecclesiastical.

===Cathedral===
{{main|Cathedral|Duomo| Architecture of cathedrals and great churches}}
[[File:Florence Duomo from Michelangelo hill.jpg|thumb|[[Florence Cathedral]]]]
A cathedral is a church, usually [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], [[Anglican]], [[Oriental Orthodox]] or [[Eastern Orthodox]], housing the seat of a bishop. The word cathedral takes its name from ''[[cathedra]]'', or Bishop's Throne (In {{langx|la|ecclesia cathedralis}}). The term is sometimes (improperly) used to refer to any church of great size.

A church with a cathedral function is not necessarily a large building. It might be as small as [[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford|Christ Church Cathedral]] in [[Oxford]], England, [[Porvoo Cathedral]] in [[Porvoo]], Finland, [[Sacred Heart Cathedral (Raleigh, North Carolina)|Sacred Heart Cathedral]] in [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh, United States]], or [[Chur]] Cathedral in Switzerland. However, frequently, the cathedral, along with some of the abbey churches, was the [[List of largest buildings in the world|largest building]] in any region.

Cathedrals tend to display a higher level of [[Contemporary architecture|contemporary architectural style]] and the work of accomplished craftsmen, and occupy a status both ecclesiastical and social that an ordinary parish church rarely has. Such churches are generally among the finest buildings locally and a source of national and regional pride,<ref>Batsford and Fry, 1-3</ref> and many are among the world's most renowned works of architecture.<ref>Richard Utz. "The Cathedral as Time Machine: Art, Architecture, and Religion." In: ''The Idea of the Gothic Cathedral. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Meanings of the Medieval Edifice in the Modern Period'', ed. Stephanie Glaser (Turnhout: Brepols, 2018). pp.&nbsp;239–59.</ref>

===Chapel===
{{main|Chapel}}
{{further|Chapel of ease|Sistine Chapel}} 
[[File:Cappella Palatina 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Cappella Palatina]], [[Palermo]], [[Sicily]]]]
Either, a discrete space with an altar inside a larger cathedral, conventual, parish, or other church; or, a free standing small church building or room not connected to a larger church, to serve a particular [[hospital]], [[school]], [[university]], prison, private household, [[palace]], [[castle]], or other institution. Often  proprietary churches and small conventual churches are referred to by this term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03574b.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Chapel|website=www.newadvent.org|access-date=10 April 2005|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309142301/https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03574b.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Collegiate church===
{{main|Collegiate church}}
A collegiate church is a church where the [[daily office]] of worship is maintained by a [[college (canon law)|college]] of [[canon (priest)|canons]], which may be presided over by a [[Dean (religion)|dean]] or [[Provost (religion)|provost]].
Collegiate churches were often supported by extensive lands held by the church, or by [[tithe]] income from [[impropriation|appropriated]] [[benefices]]. They commonly provide distinct spaces for congregational worship and for the choir offices of their clerical community.

===Conventual church===
{{further|Abbey|Priory|Katholikon}}
A conventual church (in Eastern Orthodoxy ''[[katholikon]]'') is the main church in a Christian [[monastery]] or [[convent]], known variously as an [[abbey]], a [[priory]], a [[friary]], or a [[preceptor#Christian military orders|preceptory]].

===Parish church===
{{main|Parish Church}} 
{{further|Parish|Clergy house}}
[[File:BerndorfEnsembleMargaretenplatz.jpg|thumb|St Margarete Parish Church, [[Berndorf, Lower Austria|Berndorf]], [[Austria]]]]
A parish church is a church built to meet the needs of people localised in a geographical area called a [[parish]]. The vast majority of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran church buildings fall into this category. A parish church may also be a basilica, a cathedral, a conventual or collegiate church, or a place of pilgrimage. The vast majority of parish churches do not however enjoy such privileges.

In addition to a parish church, each parish may maintain auxiliary organizations and their facilities such as a [[rectory]], [[church hall|parish hall]], [[parochial school]], or [[convent]], frequently located on the same campus or adjacent to the church.

===Pilgrimage church===
{{main|Pilgrimage church}}
A pilgrimage church is a church to which [[pilgrimage]]s are regularly made, or a church along a pilgrimage route, often located at the tomb of a [[saint]]s, or holding icons or [[relic]]s to which miraculous properties are ascribed, the site of [[Marian apparition]]s, etc.

===Proprietary church===
{{main|Proprietary church}}
During the Middle Ages, a proprietary church was a church, abbey, or cloister built on the private grounds of a feudal lord, over which he retained proprietary interests.

===Evangelical church structures===
[[File:Lakewood worship.jpg|thumb|[[Lakewood Church]]]]
The architecture of [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] places of worship is mainly characterized by its sobriety.<ref>Peter W. Williams, ''Houses of God: Region, Religion, and Architecture in the United States'', University of Illinois Press, USA, 2000, p. 125</ref><ref>Murray Dempster, Byron D. Klaus, Douglas Petersen, ''The Globalization of Pentecostalism: A Religion Made to Travel'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2011, p. 210</ref> The [[Latin cross]] is a well known [[Christian symbol]] that can usually be seen on the building of an evangelical church and that identifies the place's belonging.<ref>Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South, Volume 2'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2018, p. 32</ref><ref>Anne C. Loveland, Otis B. Wheeler, '' From Meetinghouse to Megachurch: A Material and Cultural History'', University of Missouri Press, USA, 2003, p. 149</ref> Some services take place in theaters, schools or multipurpose rooms, rented for Sunday only.<ref name="Caillou">Annabelle Caillou, [https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/541071/vivre-grace-aux-dons-et-au-benevolat Vivre grâce aux dons et au bénévolat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106064325/https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/541071/vivre-grace-aux-dons-et-au-benevolat |date=6 November 2020 }}, ledevoir.com, Canada, 10 November 2018</ref><ref>Helmuth Berking, Silke Steets, Jochen Schwenk, ''Religious Pluralism and the City: Inquiries into Postsecular Urbanism'', Bloomsbury Publishing, UK, 2018, p. 78</ref><ref>George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 1359</ref> There is usually a [[baptistery]] at the front of the church (in what is known as the [[chancel]] in historic traditions) or in a separate room for [[Immersion baptism|baptisms by immersion]].<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 61</ref><ref>Wade Clark Roof, ''Contemporary American Religion, Volume 1'', Macmillan, UK, 2000, p. 49</ref>

Worship services take on impressive proportions in the [[megachurches]] (churches where more than 2,000 people gather every Sunday). In some of these megachurches, more than 10,000 people gather every Sunday. The term gigachurch is sometimes used.<ref>Sam Hey, ''Megachurches: Origins, Ministry, and Prospects'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2013, p. 265.</ref><ref>Ed Stetzer, 
[http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2008/october/megachurch-research--terminology.html Megachurch Research - Terminology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516030544/https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2008/october/megachurch-research--terminology.html |date=16 May 2021 }}, christianitytoday.com, USA, October 9, 2008.</ref> For example, [[Lakewood Church]] (United States) or [[Yoido Full Gospel Church]] (South Korea).<ref>Alicia Budich, 
[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/from-megachurch-to-gigachurch/ From Megachurch to "Gigachurch"], cbsnews.com, USA, April 6, 2012.</ref>

===House church===
{{Main|House church}}
[[File:People singing chant.JPG|thumb|A house church in Shunyi, Beijing]]
In some countries of the world which apply [[sharia]] or [[communism]], government authorizations for worship are complex for Christians.<ref>Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley, ''The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 4'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, USA, 2005, p. 163.</ref><ref>Yves Mamou, [https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/religion/2019/03/20/31004-20190320ARTFIG00076-yves-mamou-les-persecutions-de-chretiens-ont-lieu-en-majorite-dans-des-pays-musulmans.php Yves Mamou: «Les persécutions de chrétiens ont lieu en majorité dans des pays musulmans»] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111023318/https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/religion/2019/03/20/31004-20190320ARTFIG00076-yves-mamou-les-persecutions-de-chretiens-ont-lieu-en-majorite-dans-des-pays-musulmans.php |date=11 January 2021 }}, lefigaro.fr, France, March 20, 2019</ref><ref>Wesley Rahn, [https://www.dw.com/en/in-xi-we-trust-is-china-cracking-down-on-christianity/a-42224752 In Xi we trust - Is China cracking down on Christianity?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220161203/https://www.dw.com/en/in-xi-we-trust-is-china-cracking-down-on-christianity/a-42224752 |date=20 February 2021 }}, dw.com, Germany, January 19, 2018</ref> Because of [[persecution of Christians]], Evangelical [[house churches]] have thus developed.<ref>Allan Heaton Anderson, ''An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2013, p. 104.</ref> For example, there is the [[House church (China)|Evangelical house churches in China]] movement.<ref>Brian Stiller, ''Evangelicals Around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century'', Thomas Nelson, USA, 2015, p. 328</ref> The meetings thus take place in private houses, in secret and in "illegality".<ref>Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South, Volume 2'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2018, p. 364.</ref>

===Alternative buildings===
{{further|Road church|Simultaneum}}

Old and disused church buildings can be seen as an interesting proposition for developers as the architecture and location often provide for attractive homes<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alexander |first=Lucy |date=14 December 2007 |title=Church conversions |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/new_homes/article3047285.ece |access-date=30 April 2010 |archive-date=1 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501094940/http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/new_homes/article3047285.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> or city centre entertainment venues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Site design and technology by Lightmaker.com |title=quality food and drink |url=http://www.pitcherandpiano.com/locations/bar.cfm?area=Nottingham |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031113829/http://www.pitcherandpiano.com/locations/bar.cfm?area=nottingham |archive-date=31 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2011 |publisher=Pitcher and Piano}}</ref> On the other hand, many newer churches have decided to host meetings in public buildings such as schools,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Family Church Christchurch Dorset |url=http://www.familychurchchristchurch.org.uk/ |access-date=18 October 2011 |publisher=The Family Church Christchurch |archive-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020150925/http://www.familychurchchristchurch.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> universities,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to The Hope Church, Manchester... A Newfrontiers Church based in Salford, Greater Manchester UK |url=http://www.the-hope.org.uk |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202171948/http://www.the-hope.org.uk/ |archive-date=2 February 2010 |access-date=18 October 2011 |publisher=The-hope.org.uk}}</ref> cinemas<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jubilee Church London |url=http://www.jubileechurchlondon.org/ |website=jubileechurchlondon.org |access-date=23 December 2010 |archive-date=27 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227123034/http://jubileechurchlondon.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> or theatres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Hillsong Church |url=http://hillsong.com/uk/ |access-date=25 November 2016 |website=Hillsong Church UK |archive-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127002701/http://hillsong.com/uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There is another trend to convert old buildings for [[worship]] rather than face the construction costs and planning difficulties of a new build. Unusual venues in the UK include a former tram power station,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CITY CHURCH NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD – enjoying God...making friends...changing lives – Welcome |url=http://www.city-church.co.uk/ |access-date=18 October 2011 |publisher=City-church.co.uk |archive-date=6 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006021722/http://www.city-church.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a former [[bus garage]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aylsham Community Church |url=http://www.aylshamcommunitychurch.org/ |access-date=18 October 2011 |publisher=Aylsham Community Church |archive-date=13 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913220620/http://www.aylshamcommunitychurch.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a former cinema and [[Bingo (UK)|bingo]] hall,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hall |first=Reg |title=Things are different now: A short history of Winchester Family Church |publisher=Winchester Family Church |year=2004 |location=Winchester |page=11}}</ref> a former [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] drill hall,<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABOUT |url=http://www.barnabascommunitychurch.com/about.html |access-date=5 December 2016 |website=www.barnabascommunitychurch.com |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220052513/http://www.barnabascommunitychurch.com/about.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and a former [[synagogue]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where We Meet |url=http://www.citychurchsheffield.org.uk/where-we-meet |access-date=5 December 2016 |website=City Church Sheffield |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220052125/http://www.citychurchsheffield.org.uk/where-we-meet |url-status=live }}</ref> {{HMS|Tees|1817|6}} served as a floating church for mariners at [[Liverpool]] from 1827 until she sank in 1872.<ref name="LM100672">{{Cite news |date=10 June 1872 |title=Local and General |work=Leeds Mercury |issue=10660 |location=Leeds}}</ref> A windmill has also been converted into a church at [[Reigate Heath Windmill|Reigate Heath]].

There have been increased partnerships between church management and private real estate companies to redevelop church properties into mixed uses. While it has garnered criticism, the partnership allows congregations to increase revenue while preserving the property.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Friedman |first=Robyn A. |title=Churches Redeveloping Properties to Give Them New Life |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/churches-redeveloping-properties-to-give-them-new-life-1443519001 |access-date=2015-10-23 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=13 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713023229/https://www.wsj.com/articles/churches-redeveloping-properties-to-give-them-new-life-1443519001 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Geographical distribution ==
[[File:Jerusalem-Grabeskirche-14-vom Erloeserkirchturm-2010-gje.jpg|thumb|[[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] is considered the most important church in all of [[Christendom]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Holt |first=Andrew |title=The World of the Crusades: A Daily Life Encyclopedia [2 volumes] |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2019 |isbn=9781440854620 |page=57 |quote=was housed in the most important church in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.}}</ref>]]
With the exception of [[Saudi Arabia]] and the [[Maldives]], all [[sovereign states]] and [[dependent territories]] worldwide have church buildings.<ref name="Kurian 2015 187–188">{{cite book|title=A Quick Look at Christian History: A Chronological Timeline Through the Centuries|first=George|last=Kurian|year=2015|isbn=9780736953795|pages=187–188|publisher=Harvest House Publishers}}</ref> Among countries with a church, [[Afghanistan]] has the fewest churches globally, featuring only one official church: the [[Our Lady of Divine Providence Chapel, Kabul|Our Lady of Divine Providence Chapel in Kabul]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323384604578326953607830168|title=Afghan Church Endures Amid War and Strife|last=Stancati|first=Margherita|date=2013-03-18|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=2016-05-31}}</ref> [[Somalia]] follows closely, having once housed the [[Mogadishu Cathedral]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ulXZAAAAMAAJ |title=Consolata Missionaries in the World (1901-2001) |author= Giovanni Tebaldi |year=2001 |page=127 |publisher=Paulines |isbn=9789966210234 |accessdate=2014-04-06}}</ref> along with the Saint Anthony of Padua Church in [[Somaliland]].<ref>[https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/7615/somaliland-s-only-catholic-church-closed-days-after-re-opening-due-to-public-pressures- Somaliland's only Catholic church closed days after re-opening due to 'public pressures ']{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926170720/https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/7615/somaliland-s-only-catholic-church-closed-days-after-re-opening-due-to-public-pressures-/|date=26 September 2020}}</ref> Other countries with a limited number of churches include [[Bhutan]] and [[Western Sahara]].{{refn|group=note|In Bhutan, 65,000 Christians have access to only one official church. In Western Sahara, however, there are dozens of [[Christianity in Morocco|Moroccan Christians]] and around 260 expatriate Spaniards who are served by two churches: [[St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Laayoune|St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Laayoune]] and [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Dakhla|Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Dakhla]].<ref name="Kurian 2015 187–188">{{cite book|title=A Quick Look at Christian History: A Chronological Timeline Through the Centuries|first=George|last=Kurian|year=2015|isbn=9780736953795|pages=187–188|publisher=Harvest House Publishers}}</ref>}}
[[File:St martin in the fields exterior.jpg|thumb|The exterior outlines of [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]] (London, 1720), tall front steeple above pitched roof and rectangle, popularized a template for many church buildings in North America and beyond]]
In contrast, some estimates suggest that the [[United States]] has the highest number of churches in the world, with around 380,000,<ref>{{cite web|first=Rebecca|last =Randall|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2017/09/how-many-churches-in-america-us-nones-nondenominational/|title=How Many Churches Does America Have? More Than Expected|date =14 September 2017|publisher=Christianity Today}}</ref> followed by [[Brazil]] and [[Italy]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Churches and Democracy in Brazil: Towards a Public Theology Focused on Citizenship|first=Rudolf|last=von Sinner|year=2012|isbn=9781630877279| page=59|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers}}</ref> According to the Future for Religious Heritage, there are over 500,000 churches across [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/29/religious-buildings-are-part-of-europes-heritage-they-should-be-part-of-its-future|title=Religious buildings are part of Europe’s heritage. They should be part of its future|date =29 October 2018 |publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> Several cities are commonly known as the "[[City of Churches]]" due to their abundance of churches. These cities include [[Adelaide]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1455 |title=Religion: Diversity |access-date=15 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810123558/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1455 |archive-date=10 August 2013}}</ref> [[Ani]],<ref>{{cite EB1911 |mode=cs2 |wstitle=Ani |volume=2 |page=47}}</ref> [[Ayacucho]],<ref>{{cite book|title=The Church, Dictatorships, and Democracy in Latin America|last=Klaiber|first=Jeffrey|date=2009-09-01|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|isbn=9781606089477}}</ref> [[Churches of Kraków|Kraków]],<ref name="diecezja">Józef Szymon Wroński (2007), [https://web.archive.org/web/20071228090310/http://diecezja.pl/index.php?page=jswronski Kościoły Krakowa (The churches of Kraków).] Archidiecezja Krakowska. Retrieved 23 December 2012. {{in lang|pl}}</ref> [[Moscow]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=onlinelibrary.wiley.com|journal=City & Society|volume=10|pages=269–314|publisher=onlinelibrary.wiley.com|date=June 28, 2008|doi=10.1525/city.1998.10.1.269|last=Khazanov|first=Anatoly M.|s2cid=145807994}}</ref> [[Montreal]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/notre-dame-de-paris-fire-how-safe-are-montreals-heritage-churches|title=Notre-Dame de Paris fire: How safe are Montreal's heritage churches?|access-date=March 13, 2021|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118042736/https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/notre-dame-de-paris-fire-how-safe-are-montreals-heritage-churches|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Naples]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.red-travel.com/uk/ferrari-tour-italy/places/naples-english-guided-visit.htm |publisher=Red Travel |title=Naples |date=8 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303111036/http://www.red-travel.com/uk/ferrari-tour-italy/places/naples-english-guided-visit.htm |archive-date=3 March 2012}}</ref> [[Ohrid]],<ref>{{cite book|author1=Biljana Vankovska|author2=Hakan Wiberg|author3=Wiberg Hakan|title=Between Past and Future: Civil-military Relations in the Post-communist Balkans|year=2003|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=978-1-86064-624-9|page=71}}</ref> [[Churches in Prague|Prague]], [[Puebla]], [[Querétaro (city)|Querétaro]], [[Churches of Rome|Rome]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Stuardt |last=Clarke |title=The Churches of Rome: Major and Minor |publisher=Stuardt Clarkes Rome |url=http://www.stuardtclarkesrome.com/churchlist.htm |access-date=26 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035455/http://www.stuardtclarkesrome.com/churchlist.htm |archive-date=8 February 2012 }}</ref> [[Salzburg]], and [[List of churches in Vilnius|Vilnius]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bideleux |first1=Robert |last2=Jeffries |first2=Ian |title=A history of Eastern Europe: crisis and change |date=1998 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415161114 |page=122}}</ref> Notably, Rome and [[New York City]] are home to the highest number of churches of any city in the world.<ref>{{cite book |title = The Epic of New York City: A Narrative History |author = Edward Robb Elli |publisher = Basic Books |page = 593 |isbn = 9780786714360}}</ref>
[[File:Saint Peter's Basilica facade, Rome, Italy.jpg|thumb|[[St. Peter's Basilica]] in [[Vatican City]], the [[List of largest church buildings|largest church in the world]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinations/lazio/rome/sights/st_peters.html |title=St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) in Rome, Italy |work=reidsitaly.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223025429/http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinations/lazio/rome/sights/st_peters.html |archive-date=23 February 2015 |access-date=2 August 2020 }}</ref>]]
Although building churches is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, which has around 1.5 million Christians,<ref>{{cite web |title=Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population |url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801204254/http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf |archive-date=2019-08-01 |publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> the country contains the remnants of a historic church known as the [[Jubail Church]], which dates back to the fourth century and was affiliated with the [[Church of the East]].<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last=Carter |first=R.A. |date=2008 |title=Christianity in the Gulf during the first centuries of Islam |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0471.2008.00293.x |journal=Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=71–108 |doi=10.1111/j.1600-0471.2008.00293.x |issn=0905-7196}}</ref> Discovered in 1986, the site was excavated by the Saudi Antiquities Department in 1987. As of 2008, the findings from this excavation had not been published, reflecting sensitivities regarding artifacts from non-Islamic religions.<ref name=":1" /> In the Maldives, which has approximately 1,400 Christians,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Handbook of Christianity in Asia |first=Felix |last=Wilfred |year=2014 |isbn=9780199329069 |page=45 |publisher=Oxford University Press |quote=}}</ref> building churches is prohibited. However, only foreign Christian workers are allowed to practice their religion privately.<ref>{{Citation |last=Ross |first=Kenneth R. |title=The Maldives |date=2019 |work=Christianity in South and Central Asia |pages=197–198 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781474439824.003.0018 |access-date=2024-07-10 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=978-1-4744-3982-4 |last2=Johnson |first2=Todd M.}}</ref> Despite the prohibition on church construction, both countries have secret [[home churches]].<ref name="Kurian 2015 187–188">{{cite book|title=A Quick Look at Christian History: A Chronological Timeline Through the Centuries|first=George|last=Kurian|year=2015|isbn=9780736953795|pages=187–188|publisher=Harvest House Publishers}}</ref>

[[Christianity]] is the [[Major religious groups|world's largest]] and most widespread religion,<ref>{{cite web|first = Jaroslav |last = Jan Pelikan|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity|title=Christianity |date =13 August 2022 |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|quote= It has become the largest of the world's religions and, geographically, the most widely diffused of all faiths.}}</ref> with over 2.3 billion followers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population |url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801204254/http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf |archive-date=2019-08-01 |publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> Churches are found across all seven [[continents]], which are [[Christianity in Asia|Asia]], [[Christianity in Africa|Africa]], [[Christianity in North America|North America]], [[Christianity in South America|South America]], [[Religion in Antarctica|Antarctica]], [[Christianity in Europe|Europe]], and [[Oceania]]. Antarctica is home to [[List of Antarctic churches|eight churches]],<ref>Riedel, Dr. Katja. [https://polar-news.com/antarctic/society/174-faith-in-antarctica-religion-in-the-land-of-eternal-snow Faith in Antarctica – Religion in the land of eternal snow]. Polar News. April 27, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2017.</ref> with two additional churches located south of the [[Antarctic Convergence]].<ref>Merchant, Brian. [https://www.vice.com/en/article/these-are-six-churches-currently-giving-services-to-scientists-on-antarctica/ Prayer on Ice: The Six Churches Giving Sermons to Scientists on Antarctica] . [[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]. March 18, 2013. Retrieves January 2, 2017.</ref>

Many churches worldwide are of considerable historical, national, [[Christian culture|cultural]], and architectural significance, with several recognized as [[List of World Heritage Sites by religion|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].<ref name="Tsivolas 2014 3–4"/> According to the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' the [[Cenacle]] (the site of the [[Last Supper]]) in [[Jerusalem]] was the "first Christian church".<ref>{{cite web|title=To the time of Constantine (71–312)|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08355a.htm|publisher=Catholic Encyclopedia|access-date=15 November 2013|quote=Certainly no spot in Christendom can be more venerable than the place of the Last Supper, which became the first Christian church.|archive-date=24 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224025203/https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08355a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Dura-Europos church]] in Syria is the oldest surviving church building in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last=Silver|first=Carly|title=Dura-Europos: Crossroad of Cultures|url=http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/dura_europos/|publisher=[[Archaeology (magazine)|Archaeology]]|access-date=16 November 2013|date=11 August 2010|archive-date=25 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025052035/http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/dura_europos/|url-status=live}}</ref> Several authors have cited the [[Etchmiadzin Cathedral]] ([[Armenia]]'s mother church) as the oldest [[cathedral]] in the world.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East|year=2008|publisher=[[Infobase Publishing]]|location=New York|isbn=9781438126760|page=65|editor=Stokes, Jamie|quote=Etchmiatzin is located in the west of modern Armenia, close to the border with Turkey, and its fourth-century cathedral is generally regarded as the oldest in the world.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dhilawala|first=Sakina|title=Armenia|year=1997|publisher=[[Marshall Cavendish]]|location=New York|isbn=9780761406839|page=[https://archive.org/details/armenia00dhil/page/72 72]|quote=Echmiadzin Cathedral is the spiritual center of the Armenian Church and the seat of the Catholicos of all Armenians. It is also the oldest cathedral and Christian monastery in the world.|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/armenia00dhil/page/72}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Utudjian|first=Édouard|title=Armenian Architecture: 4th to 17th Century|year=1968|publisher=Editions A. Morancé|page=7|author-link=Édouard Utudjian|quote=...he also wanted to contribute to the restoration of the oldest cathedral in Christendom, that of Etchmiadzin, founded in the 4th century.}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Architecture|Christianity}}
* [[Dedication (ritual)|Dedication]]
* [[List of largest church buildings]]
* [[Pub church]]
* [[Shrine]]
* [[Tabernacle (Methodist)]]
* [[Temple]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group="note"}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book |last=Levy |first=Patricia |url=https://archive.org/details/cathedralschurch0000unse |title=Cathedrals and the Church |publisher=Smart Apple Media |year=2004 |isbn=1-58340-572-0 |series=Medieval World |location=North Mankato, MN |url-access=registration}}
*{{Cite book |last=Krieger |first=Herman |url=https://archive.org/details/churchesadhoc00herm |title=Churches ad hoc |publisher=PhotoZone Press |year=1998 |isbn=9780966580969 |url-access=registration}}
* [[Erlande-Brandenburg, Alain]], Qu'est-ce qu'une église ?, Gallimard, Paris, 333 p., 2010.
* Gendry Mickael, L'église, un héritage de Rome, Essai sur les principes et méthodes de l'architecture chrétienne, Religions et Spiritualité, collection Beaux-Arts architecture religion, édition Harmattan 2009, 267 p.

==External links==
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* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03041a.htm New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia – Ecclesiastical Buildings]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03744a.htm New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia – The Church]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcfLSpJXo0w Prairie Churches] Documentary produced by [[Prairie Public Television]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121116155347/http://www.iptv.org/iowastories/story.cfm/worship/9640/iowa_places_of_worship_2007/video Iowa Places of Worship] Documentary produced by [[Iowa Public Television]]
* {{CathEncy|wstitle=Ecclesiastical Buildings}}

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