Catholic Church Interior Design Has Specific Staple Items

[Jada Hudson]

A church is commonly defined as a building used for public worship,
especially in the Christian religion. Churches are typically very
spiritual places and most people don't think of them as decorated or
designed, but they had to get that way some how, right? When designing
the interior of a church, there are usually considerations made
depending on the type of Christian church it is.
Catholic churches tend to look very different and house some different
areas than a Southern Baptist church probably would, but most Catholic
churches have most of the same things in them from one church to
another. All Catholic churches typically have the following things, a
representation of the 14 Stations of the Cross, an altar, tabernacle
and pews.
In most Catholic churches, particularly Roman Catholic ones, there is
a representation of the 14 Stations of the Cross. Many times these are
in the stained glass windows of the church, or in representative tiles
along the walls of the church. The 14 Stations of the Cross illustrate
the story of Jesus' condemnation by the Romans. These are put to
particular use during the times of Lent.
The altar of the Catholic Church is another consistent design element.
The altar is where the church's mass is observed. Whenever the
sacrifice of mass is offered, an altar or altar stone must be present.
Altars are most often made of stone, often marble, in order to
withstand use. Wood is also used. Gold and other precious metals have
also been used to create some magnificent altars that have been
presented at times as gifts to the churches.
Tabernacles are another item that will always be found in a Catholic
church. Within this religion, a tabernacle describes a cupboard or box
that is used exclusively for the storage of the Blessed Sacrament. In
the Catholic faith, the Blessed Sacrament is physically the bread and
wine used for communion, and literally the body, blood, soul and
divinity of Jesus Christ. The tabernacle typically rests next to or
behind the altar for communion purposes.
Another component of most churches, including but not only in the
Catholic ones is the long bench like rows of wooden seating called
pews. Pews are not used in most Orthodox churches, where stands are
used instead. Pews are located in the nave, where the parishioners sit
for church services. Catholic pews often also have kneelers in front
of their pews so that worshipers are able to kneel in prayer without
having to get on the floor under the pew in front of them. There are
typically pathways left in between rows of pews to allow for a
procession, when a priest, acolytes, the choir or even a bride enters
the church and goes to the altar.