Early Christian Church Floor Plan

Early christian architecture by the end of the first century it is evident that christian places of worship had developed a somewhat standard form of architecture.

Early christian church floor plan. This large open center space designed to be all purpose is surrounded by classrooms. When the building became a church the atrium became the nave the dining room became the chancel and the chopping block became the altar. Ancient christians found a glorified version of their church s floor plan in revelation 4 2 4. South creek church of god kokomo in capacity.

Peter s and glossary of terms included in my arth 109 site. Church in architecture a building designed for christian worship. Multi use facility includes a gymnasium and church classrooms. One or two side aisles.

Big church floor plan. The bishop sat in the father s place and the priests sat in the sons s places. The early christian basilica will form the foundation of much we know of christian church architecture. The period of architecture termed early or paleo christian lasted from the first christian church buildings of the early 4th century until the development of a distinctly byzantine style which emerged in the reign of justinian i in the 6th century foundation of constantinople by constantine in 330 ce.

Characteristics of the early christian church building plan of old st peter s basilica showing atrium courtyard narthex vestibule central nave with double aisles a bema for the clergy extending into a transept and an exedra or semi circular apse. Churches from the 1 st through the 3 rd centuries took classical greek and roman architecture in its most flourished form as its main influence. The basilica of the early christian period set the basic form of church architecture for centuries to come right up to the present time. Even so it is a history of amazingly rich styles and expressions.

The plan generally included a nave q v or hall with a flat timber roof in which the crowd gathered. Early christian church in 313 ad constantine made christianity legal soon christianity became the official religion and christians started building. The open areas don t have fixed seating which allow the flexibility to be used as a. The names for the parts of the church are in red after each number.

Everything following those first centuries was a variation elaboration or copy of the basilica form. Plan of a typical christian church the numbers below correspond to the circled numbers above. The earliest churches were based on the plan of the pagan roman basilica q v or hall of justice.