Walk into several churches located on the same street in the same city, and you’re likely to find wildly varying sanctuaries. There is no “standard” sanctuary space any longer, as these rooms are reflecting the varying styles of worship throughout this country. Churches are inherently different, so it stands to reason that their individual sanctuaries should differ as well.

In our annual focus on outfitting the sanctuary, we touch on the most pertinent topics as you plan your worship space, the heart and soul of your church. It needs to be unique, just as your church is, and specifically suited to your congregation.

Here are some great “take-aways” from this section.

Planning Your Furnishings
The old adage that “form follows function” is very true. Remember, your house of worship is meant to accommodate your existing worshipers and those whom you anticipate will want to worship in your facility in the future. Begin by determining what important functions and rituals need to be recognized and retained in the new facility.  These are often the non-negotiable factors that keep existing parishioners happy.  Surveying your congregation about this and other functions of the facility early on is not just useful--it’s mandatory.

Seating 101
With the rise in the number of products that are being imported into the United States, as well as various domestic companies coming into the market, there are numerous sanctuary seating choices. All chairs are not created equal. A low price tag or a claim of quality doesn’t mean that the product is worth your while. Take your time, review your sample chairs, research your potential vendors and make sure that you are getting your money’s worth.

Stained Glass
Well-conceived, artistically executed stained glass is a vehicle for enabling people to transcend their daily lives. This level of accomplishment requires both excellent craftsmanship and a mystical quality provided by the stained glass through its meaning (or iconography), design and color. Bringing stained glass windows to fruition should be the result of an extensive process involving members of the church, possibly an architect, artists, researchers and craftspeople from the stained glass studio.