Church Architecture
March 27, 2020
By now, you know that Father David serves at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. And even if you haven’t seen it in downtown Chattanooga, you probably have a picture in your mind of what a Catholic church looks like – beautifully designed, highly decorated, even awe-inspiring. In this episode, Adam and David explore the purpose behind Catholic architecture, criticisms, and alternatives.
From ancient temples to medieval cathedrals, there’s a precedent for beautifully constructed places of worship both inside and outside of Christendom. But specifically for Catholics, churches have a very symbolic quality; they represent what Catholics believe about God and reflect who they are as Christians. The permanence and visibility of such buildings embody what the Church should be in a way that house churches and church plants just can’t, according to David.
Listen to this episode to hear more about the theology of architecture as Adam and David discuss basilicas, monuments, and doctrine.
Jump Through the Conversation
[0:41] What is a basilica?
[2:45] Episode preface
[3:16] The liturgical importance of Catholic churches
[5:49] The Basilica of Saint John Lateran
[9:36] Dedication of a new altar at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul
[10:22] When the ideal building isn’t feasible
[11:56] Why beautiful church buildings are worth the money
[15:45] What about house churches?
[21:43] The importance of things that create a permanent physical memory
[25:28] Criticism of the church planting movement
[26:53] Reasonable criticism of focus on architecture
[27:50] Summary and thoughts from Adam
[29:51] Extending thoughts on rootedness to doctrinal issues
A resource of the Chattanooga House of Prayer