Church (building)
| Church | |
|---|---|
Trieste Cathedral, a church dedicated to Saint Justus (1320) | |
| General information | |
| Type | Place of worship |
| Architectural style | Various (Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, etc.) |
| Location | Worldwide |
| Current tenants | Christian congregations |
| Year built | c. 233-256 AD (earliest identified) |
| Owner | Various religious organizations |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | Often includes:
|
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Various (load-bearing walls, vaulted ceilings, domes) |
| Part of a series on |
| Christianity |
|---|
A church is a building used for Christian worship services and Christian activities. The earliest identified Christian church is a house church founded between AD 233 and AD 256. The word church also describes a body or assembly of Christian believers, while "the Church" refers to the worldwide Christian religious community.
In traditional Christian architecture, the plan view of a church often forms a Christian cross. The center aisle and seating create the vertical beam, while the bema and altar form the horizontal arms. Towers or domes rise above the heaven-facing roof line to encourage contemplation of the divine. Modern churches employ varied architectural styles, and many buildings originally designed for other purposes have been converted to churches. From the 11th to the 14th centuries, Western Europe experienced a wave of church construction.
Many churches worldwide are of considerable historical, national, cultural, and architectural significance. Several are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.