When were churches first built?

Churches appear in the 1st century as homes of believers in which Christian worship services were held. Buildings constructed specifically as houses of worship appear between the 1st and 2nd centuries.

What is the oldest church in the world?

The oldest church in the world extant is the Dura-Europos Church in Dura-Europos, Syria.

What is the largest church in the world?

St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, constructed 1506-1626, is the largest church in the world.

What caused the change in the design of churches?

Churches were often - not always - ornate and heavily ornamented buildings until the Protestant Reformation of 1517. Afterwards, Protestant congregations constructed more modest structures with a focus on the pulpit and a reduction or elimination of iconography and ornamentation. Catholic churches, generally, continued to be built with an emphasis on the grandeur and majesty of God.

A Gallery of Churches from Around the World (Image Gallery) p. 5

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by Joshua J. Mark
published on 03 December 2024

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Saint Hripsime Church

by James Blake Wiener
published on 12 October 2017

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Saint Hripsime Church was built in Etchmiadzin (Vagharshapat), Armenia on the orders of Catholicos Komitas I Aghtsetsi (r. 615-628) and dedicated to Saint Hripsime (d. c. 290 CE) who was one of Armenia's first Christian martyrs. The site had previously been occupied by a Greco-Roman temple similar to the one at Garni as well as a martyrium, which was destroyed by the Sasanian Empire in the 4th century CE. The current structure was consecrated in 618 CE, and the church contains the tomb of Saint Hripsime. The architectural complexity of the church is widely considered one of the great achievements of medieval Armenian architecture.

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Questions & Answers

When were churches first built?: Churches appear in the 1st century as homes of believers in which Christian worship services were held. Buildings constructed specifically as houses of worship appear between the 1st and 2nd centuries.
What is the oldest church in the world?: The oldest church in the world extant is the Dura-Europos Church in Dura-Europos, Syria.
What is the largest church in the world?: St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, constructed 1506-1626, is the largest church in the world.
What caused the change in the design of churches?: Churches were often - not always - ornate and heavily ornamented buildings until the Protestant Reformation of 1517. Afterwards, Protestant congregations constructed more modest structures with a focus on the pulpit and a reduction or elimination of iconography and ornamentation. Catholic churches, generally, continued to be built with an emphasis on the grandeur and majesty of God.

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External Links

The Church Building: Catholic Identity

bne.catholic.edu.au

Church Architecture, Styles & History : Types of Churches

nationalchurchestrust.org

Postwar Building Boom | Article Archive | The Institute for Sacred Architecture

sacredarchitecture.org

The History of The Church Steeple - Religious Product News

religiousproductnews.com

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