ECUMENISM IS A FORM OF RECONCILIATION THAT AIMS TO BRING

THE DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS OF CHRISTIANITY TOGETHER.

THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT AIMS TO, “RECOVER THE APOSTOLIC SENSE

OF THE EARLY CHURCH FOR UNITY IN DIVERSITY,” BY DEALING WITH THE
“FRUSTRATIONS, DIFFICULTIES, AND IRONIES OF THE MODERN
PLURALISTIC WORLD. IT IS A LIVELY REASSESSMENT OF THE HISTORICAL
[CHURCH] AND DESTINY OF WHAT FOLLOWERS PERCEIVE TO BE THE ONE,
HOLY, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.”

ANOTHER INTERPRETATION OF THE MODERN ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT

SEEKS TO PROMOTE A TYPE OF UNITY CHRISTIAN UNITY, AS DESCRIBED
IN THE BIBLE, WITH THOSE OF OTHER NON-CHRISTIAN FAITHS. THIS
ECUMENISM PROPOUNDS THE IDEA OF UNIVERSALISM IN WHICH
EVERYONE WILL GO TO HEAVEN, BELIEVING IN JESUS OR NOT.

Ecumenical Church

CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF RECONCILIATION,

BECAUSE HIS CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION HEALED THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN GOD AND HUMANITY. MANY CHRISTIANS TRY TO FOLLOW JESUS’ EXAMPLE
BY WORKING FOR RECONCILIATION IN THE WORLD.

ECUMENISM IS ALSO LIVED OUT IN THE COMMITMENTS WE HAVE TO BE IN GOOD

PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIAN GROUPS ON CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
ULTIMATELY, THE CONCEPT OF ECUMENICAL CHURCH IS THAT IT WELCOMES ALL
CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS.
 DESIGN STANDARDS

“THE STYLE OF THE CHURCH SHOULD BE MARKED BY NOBLE SIMPLICITY; IT SHOULD BE

DIGNIFIED, EVINCING A NOBLE BEAUTY, NOT MERE COSTLY DISPLAY, AND IT SHOULD
STAND AS A SIGN AND SYMBOL OF HEAVENLY REALITIES,” SAID REV. FR. BRIAN C.
BRIGOLI DURING HIS RECENT LECTURE ON “READING A CHURCH ON THE THEOLOGY
OF ECCLESIASTICAL DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE” AT THE AZOTEA OF CASA GORORDO
MUSEUM (CGM) IN PARIAN.

FR. BRIGOLI, HEAD OF THE CEBU ARCHDIOCESAN COMMISSION ON THE CULTURAL

HERITAGE OF THE CHURCH, SHARED THE THEOLOGY BEHIND ECCLESIASTICAL
DESIGNS AND ARCHITECTURE. HE SAID THAT THE COMMON PLACE OF WORSHIP IN THE
FIRST CENTURY WAS IN A HOUSE, REFERRED TO AS “HOUSE-CHURCH” OR “DOMUS
ECCLESIAE,” THEN EVOLVING INTO A HALL DIVIDED BY FUNCTION ROOMS FOR
EUCHARISTIC ASSEMBLY AND BAPTISM, IN THE THIRD CENTURY, “DURA EUROPOS.”

DESIGN GUIDELINES SET BY BUILDING LAWS

CLASSIFIED AS A GENERAL INSITUTION ZONED PROPERTY, IT IS AN AREA WITHIN A

CITY OR MUNICIPALITY INTENDED PRINCIPALLY FOR GENERAL TYPES OF
INSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS. IT IS INTENDED TO ESTABLISH AREAS THAT
PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC STRUCTURES AND USES,
NOT INCLUDING ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FACILITIES. PUBLIC STRUCTURES AND USES PLAY
A UNIQUE ROLE IN THE FABRIC OF THE CITY. AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, AND
SHALL BE DESIGNED TO REINFORCE COMMUNITY IDENTITY AND TO PROVIDE A MODEL
FOR DESIGN STANDARDS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND PRACTICAL
INNOVATIONS.

SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLEXIBILITY IS ALLOWED, PURSUANT TO THE UNDERSTANDING

THAT COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS REQUIRE A SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC PROCESS
PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL, AND THAT RIGHTS OF ADJACENT AND NEARBY PROPERTY
OWNERS SHOULD BE PROTECTED.
 PARTS OF A CHURCH

GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING A CHURCH

CEILING HEIGHT
CREATE THE HIGHEST CEILING POSSIBLE. HIGH CEILINGS HELP CREATE
THE FEELING THAT THE SPACE IS IMPORTANT, WHICH IN TURN HELPS INSTILL
REVERENCE IN THE SPACE. HIGH CEILINGS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO CREATE THE
ACOUSTICS NEEDED FOR MUSIC, PRAYING IN UNISON, AND PROJECTION OF THE
VOICE. MUSIC REQUIRES A HIGH CEILING IN ORDER TO SOUND FULL-BODIED AND
POWERFUL.

SYMMETRY
USE PROPORTIONAL SPACING AND BALANCE TO CREATE A SYMMETRICAL
WORSHIP ENVIRONMENT. THE SANCTUARY, PLATFORM, ALTAR AREA, PULPIT,
STAGE OR OTHER FOCAL POINT OF THE WORSHIP SPACE SHOULD BE CENTERED
TO ALLOW MOST MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION AN UN-OBSTRUCTED
VIEW. WHEN PLACING SEATING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE SYMMETRICAL
DESIGN. IF PEWS, THEATER SEATS, OR MOVABLE CHAIRS ARE TO BE INSTALLED,
SEVERAL ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE
SEATING. FIRST,SEATING IN AN AUDITORIUM SPACE IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY CODES. PRIOR TO PURCHASING
SEATING FOR YOUR SPACE, UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR
AREA. MANY STATES LIMIT THE LENGTH OF PEWS OR ROWS OF THEATER SEATS
IN ORDER TO INSURE A QUICK EXIT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ADDITIONALLY,
THE MINIMUM WIDTH OF BOTH CENTER AND SIDE AISLES IS ALSO REGULATED
FOR THE SAME REASON. KEEP IN MIND WHEN PLANNING A SEATING LAYOUT,
THAT IF YOUR SANCTUARY SPACE WILL BE USED FOR WEDDINGS OR FUNERALS,
A CENTER AISLE THAT IS FIVE FEET WIDE OR WIDER WILL MAKE WALKING DOWN
THE AISLE MORE PICTURE-PERFECT FOR THE BRIDE, AND MORE DIGNIFIED FOR
THE PALL BEARERS WITH A CASKET.

COLOR SELECTION
SELECT COLORS THAT CREATE INTEREST AND DRAMA IN THE SPACE. WHEN
CHOOSING WALL COLORS, SELECT A PALETTE THAT IS OFF-WHITE, CREAM, OR A
VERY LIGHT TINT. WALLS PAINTED DARK COLORS, ALTHOUGH
DRAMATIC,ABSORB LIGHT AND CAUSE THE WORSHIP SPACE TO APPEAR
DARK. DARK SPACES CAN PROVE TO BE A DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO
READ TEXT OR MUSIC.
FABRICS
USE FABRICS, POLISHED WOOD, LIGHTING FIXTURES, ARTWORK, AND WINDOWS
TO CREATE DRAMA AND GIVE THE SPACE THE FEELING OF REVERENCE. THE
RIGHT COMBINATION OF FABRICS, DECORATIVE ARTWORK, AND ACCENT
PAINTING CAN SET THE MOOD FOR THE WORSHIP SPACE. PRIOR TO DESIGNING,
VISIT AS MANY CHURCHES AND OTHER WORSHIP CENTERS AS POSSIBLE TO SEE
WHAT YOU LIKE. USE RICH FABRICS TO ADD WARMTH AND COLOR TO THE ROOM.

ARTWORK
SIZE ARTWORK SO IT FITS THE SPACE AND CREATES IMPACT. ARTWORK MAY
BE STATUES, TAPESTRIES,SCULPTURES, PAINTINGS, CROSSES, CRUCIFIXES,
MURALS, MOSAICS, AND DECORATIVE WINDOWS.

DECORATIVE WINDOWS
WHEN SELECTING DECORATIVE WINDOWS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS
“STAINED GLASS” THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER. NOT ALL
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS ARE THE SAME– IN FACT, MOST CHURCH WINDOWS
WHICH THE AVERAGE CHURCH GOERS CALL STAINED GLASS AREN’T STAINED
GLASS AT ALL.

THE TERM STAINED GLASS REFERS TO A SPECIFIC STYLE OF DECORATIVE

GLASS WINDOWS WHERE THE ARTIST PAINTS DIRECTLY ON THE GLASS PRIOR
TO FIRING THE WINDOW IN A KILN TO MELD THE PAINT AND GLASS INTO ONE
CREATION. STAINED GLASS WINDOWS ARE JUST ONE TYPE OF DECORATIVE
CHURCH WINDOW. THE OTHER MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS OF CHURCH WINDOWS
INCLUDE ART GLASS, ETCHED GLASS, AND FACETED GLASS WINDOWS.

FURNISHINGS
JUST LIKE IN A HOME, FURNISHINGS MAKE THE ROOM. SELECT A STYLE OF
FURNISHINGS THAT CREATES THE STYLE AND LEVEL OF COMFORT AND
FORMALITY DESIRED FOR THE SPACE. PEWS COME WITH MANY OPTIONS,FROM
SOLID WOOD IN A VARIETY OF STAINED COLORS TO WHITE COLONIAL STYLE
ENDS WITH CARVED WOODEN CAPS AND FULLY UPHOLSTERED SEATS AND
BACKS. PEWS CAN BE PURCHASED TO FIT THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE OF THE
WORSHIP SPACE, NO MATTER WHETHER THE SPACE IS GOTHIC, COLONIAL,
TRADITIONAL OR CONTEMPORARY. WHEN SELECTING SEATING, WHETHER PEWS,
THEATER SEATS, OR STACKABLE CHAIRS, MEET WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT
MANUFACTURERS AND COMPARE STYLES, CONSTRUCTION METHODS, AND
QUALITY.WHEN CONSIDERING PEWS AND ALTAR FURNISHINGS, KEEP IN MIND
THAT THE MOST VISIBLE PART OF THE PEW IS THE SEATING SURFACE. WHETHER
YOU SELECT AN UPHOLSTERED SEAT AND BACK OR SOLID WOOD – SELECT A
PATTERN OR FINISH THAT WILL CREATE THE DESIRED EFFECT IN YOUR WORSHIP
SPACE. REMEMBER, THE SEATING WILL BE THE SINGLE LARGEST ITEM IN YOUR
WORSHIP SPACE. YOUR SEATING SELECTION WILL SET THE TONE FOR THE
ENTIRE SPACE. ALTHOUGH THE LARGEST SINGLE FURNITURE INVESTMENT IS
THE SEATING USED BY THE CONGREGATION, THE PULPIT AND OTHER PLATFORM
FURNISHINGS REPRESENT THE FOCAL POINT OF THE SANCTUARY. SINCE THESE
FURNISHINGS ARE WHAT EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH SERVICE IS ACTUALLY
LOOKING AT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SELECT BOTH THE STYLE AND
QUALITY TO SET THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE SANCTUARY.
WOODWORK
USED AS A DECORATIVE ELEMENT TO TRIM WALLS, FRAME ARTWORK OR
CEILINGS, WOOD IS AN EXCELLENT,LONG-LASTING MATERIAL. MAKE SURE IT IS
INSTALLED BY A SKILLED WOODWORKER AND STAINED AND VARNISHED WITH
TOP QUALITY MATERIALS.

SOUND SYSTEMS
ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE SOUND SYSTEM IS NOT SEEN, IT IS A MAJOR
COMPONENT TO NEARLY EVERY WORSHIP SPACE. IN MANY MORE
CONTEMPORARY SPACES, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR SOUND SYSTEMS TO COST
TENS OF THOUSANDS TO MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WHEN SELECTING A
SOUND SYSTEM, MEET WITH SEVERAL QUALIFIED SOUND CONSULTANTS AND
HAVE THEM DESIGN A SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR WORSHIP
SPACE. BUYING COMPONENTS OFF THE SHELF AND PUTTING A SOUND SYSTEM
TOGETHER MIGHT HAVE WORKED FOR THAT GREAT STEREO IN COLLEGE, BUT IT
JUST WON’T WORK IN A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. HAVE
A SOUND CONSULTANT EXPERIENCED IN SYSTEMS FOR CHURCHES COME
TO YOUR CHURCH AND DESIGN THE RIGHT SOUND SYSTEM FOR YOUR CHURCH.

PLANNING AND SPACE ALLOCATIONS FOR PROPER DESIGN

WHEN BUILDING YOUR CHURCH, THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME GENERAL RULES OF
THUMB FOR PROPER PLANNING.WHEN PURCHASING PROPERTY,
APPROXIMATELY ONE ACRE OF USABLE LAND IS REQUIRED FOR EACH
120PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. THIS IS SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE WORSHIP
CENTER, EDUCATION BUILDING, OFFICES, LANDSCAPING, AND PARKING. A
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, DAY CARE, RECREATION MINISTRY, ETC., WILL REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL LAND. FOR PARKING REQUIREMENTS, PLAN ON ONE USABLE ACRE
OF PAVED, STRIPED PARKING FOR EVERY 300PEOPLE. A PAVED, STRIPED
PARKING AREA SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE BETWEEN 100-115 CARS
PER USABLE ACRE, AND MOST BUILDING CODES ALLOCATE ONE CAR PER THREE
PEOPLE. MANY LOCAL BUILDING CODES MAY REQUIRE ISLANDS OF PLANTED
VEGETATION WITHIN THE PARKING LOT, WHICH REDUCES THE NUMBER OF CARS
PER ACRE. A USABLE ACRE IS ONE THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN NON-BUILDABLE
GROUND, SUCH AS WETLANDS, STEEP SLOPES, IRREGULARLY SHAPED
PROPERTY, UNGRADABLE HILLS, PROPERTY THAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE, AND/OR
PROPERTY WHICH HIGH TENSION POWER LINES CROSS OVER AND WHERE CARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE UNDER THESE POWER LINES.

SANCTUARY SEATING CAPACITY PER SQUARE FOOT PER PERSON

NUMBER OF PEOPLE SQUARE FEET PER PERSON

UP TO 300 15 -17
300-500 17-20

500 UP 20+

PRAISE BAND / ORCHESTRA AREA

ALLOW 20 – 25 SQUARE FEET PER INSTRUMENT.

VIDEO PROJECTION SCREEN(S)

ALLOW 12 TIMES THE DISTANCE TO THE FARTHEST SEAT IN THE CONGREGATION.
CHOIR
10 - 12% PERCENT OF CONGREGATIONAL SEATING. CHOIR PLATFORMS ARE
GENERALLY CONSTRUCTED SO THAT EACH PLATFORM IS 3’ 4” WHICH GIVES THE
CHOIR MEMBER ROOM TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEIR SEAT. THE CHOIR AREA
SHOULD HAVE AN ACOUSTICALLY REFLECTIVE FLOOR – NOT CARPETING. USE
HARDWOOD, STONE, VINYL, OR OTHER MATERIAL.

CONGREGATIONAL SEATING
PEWS – FIRE CODE ALLOCATES 18” PER PERSON IN A PEW; HOWEVER, REALITY
DICTATES A MORE CONSERVATIVE 21” TO 24” PER PERSON. SPACING BETWEEN
ROWS OF PEWS IS 36” FROM THE CAP RAIL OF ONE PEW TO THE CAP RAIL OF
THE NEXT PEW.

PEW LENGTH – 14 OR 15 PEOPLE MAXIMUM PER PEW. THIS RULE IS BASED ON

HOW QUICKLY A PEW CANBE EVACUATED IN AN EMERGENCY. BASED ON LIFE
SAFETY CODES, NO MORE THAN 8 PEOPLE FROM THE MIDDLE OF A PEW OR 15
PEOPLE TOTAL.

CENTER AISLE – 5’ MINIMUM; HOWEVER, IF YOU PLAN ON HOLDING WEDDINGS,

FUNERALS, AND OTHER PROCESSIONS DOWN THE CENTER AISLE, A MINIMUM OF
6’ IS MORE REALISTIC.

THEATER SEATS – THEATER SEATS ARE A VERY GOOD OPTION FOR THOSE
CONGREGATIONS WHO NEED TO MAXIMIZE THEIR SEATING AREA. TYPICALLY,
INSTALLING THEATER SEATS OVER PEWS WILL INCREASE THE SEATING
CAPACITY BY 20%. THEATER SEATS ARE A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE BY
REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF SPACE ALLOCATED PER PERSON TO 18” OR 20” AS
WELL AS BY ALLOWING THE THEATER SEATS TO BE SPACED CLOSER TOGETHER
THAN PEWS ARE BY CODE.

CHURCH CHAIRS - FULLY UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS WITH EITHER METAL OR

WOODEN FRAMES HAVE BEEN A POPULAR OPTION FOR CHURCHES THAT
REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY WITH THEIR SEATING. UNLIKE PEWS AND THEATER SEATS,
THESE CHAIRS ARE NOT FIXED TO THE GROUND WHICH ALLOWS FOR
FLEXIBILITY IN THE CHAIR LAYOUT WHENEVER NEEDED. THESE CHAIRS WILL BE
THE LEAST EXPENSIVE SEATING OPTION. WHEN PLANNING A FLOOR LAYOUT
USING CHURCH CHAIRS, ALLOW 24 INCHES WIDTH PER PERSON.

EDUCATION BUILDING
WHEN DESIGNING A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSROOM, CALCULATE 25 SQUARE
FEET PER CHILD. IF THE CLASSROOM IS ALSO TO BE USED FOR A DAY SCHOOL,
INCREASE TO 35 SQUARE FEET PER CHILD OR AS REQUIRED BY LOCAL BUILDING
CODE.

FELLOWSHIP HALL
FELLOWSHIP HALL SHOULD BE SIZED TO ACCOMMODATE ONE-HALF OF THE
SANCTUARY SEATING CAPACITY.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES & OTHER ROOMS
PASTOR’S STUDY –250 TO 325 SQUARE FEET

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 150 TO 225 SQUARE FEET

MEETING ROOMS 15 TO 25 SQUARE FEET PER PERSON

MUSIC LIBRARY 1 TO 2 SQUARE FEET PER PERSON

CHOIR REHEARSAL ROOM 15 TO 20 SQUARE FEET PER PERSON

ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL ROOM 25 SQUARE FEET PER PERSON

HANDBELL REHEARSAL ROOM 20 FEET BY 30 FEET DESIRABLE

ROBING ROOMS 4 TO 6 SQUARE FEET PER PERSON

RECREATION
PLAYGROUND – 75 SQUARE FEET PER CHILD
SAMPLE DESIGNS OF CHURCHES AND THEIR DESIGN CONCEPTS

PRETORIA. CHAPEL IN MEMORY OF THE DEAD PILOTS, 1963 ARCH. TAYLOR.

GENERAL VIEW AND PLAN

THE CONTRAST OF THE OLD AND

NEW DIRECTIONS OF ARCHITECTURE
IS CLEARLY EXPRESSED BY TWO
MEMORIAL BUILDINGS NEAR
PRETORIA. TO COMMEMORATE THE
CENTENARY OF PRETORIA, A
GRANDIOSE MONUMENT WAS
ERECTED ON A HILL SOUTH OF THE
CITY IN HONOR OF THE FIRST BOER
COLONISTS OF THE TRANSVAAL
(1949). THE FORMS OF THE HEAVY
AND SMALL-SCALE STONE-LINED
BUILDING BECAME, AS IT WERE, A
FAREWELL CHORD OF SOUTH
AFRICAN CLASSICISM (FIG. 1). THE
IDEA IS BASED ON A RACIST IDEA: ON
DECEMBER 16, A SUNBEAM FALLS
THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE
DOME ON THE SARCOPHAGUS IN THE
CENTER OF THE HALL, MARKING THE
DAY OF THE BEATING OF THE ZULUS
ON THE BLOODY RIVER IN 1938.

IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. THIS

CHAPEL WAS PLACED NEXT TO THE
AIRPORT (1963, ARCHITECT TAYLOR).
IN A LIGHT AND AIRY BUILDING WITH A DYNAMIC THREE-BEAM PLAN, CONCRETE AND
ALUMINUM, BLUE-RED MOSAICS ARE USED, IN THE MIDDLE THERE IS A CENOTAPH
WITH ONYX MARBLE CLADDING (FIG. 2). THE EXPRESSIVENESS OF THE FORMS IS
ENHANCED BY LIGHTING EFFECTS: DURING THE DAY, ORANGE GLAZING EMPHASIZES
THE VOLUME OF FLOATING CLOUDS, AT NIGHT THE CHAPEL AND CORNER FOUNTAINS
EMIT LIGHT FROM WITHIN.
THE CHURCH OF ORDER OF DESCALCED CARMELITES
: