Quick question, not sure if this is the right place

[holly_potter]

I’m writing a non-fiction creative essay on a topic of my own choosing, and it is about the Catholic church that sits across the street from my university. I’m tempted to refer to the church as “she is named after St. so and so” and “her bell tower was constructed in”

Would this be appropriate? Or should I refer to the church as “it”?

Also, if it was named after a male saint, would the church still be referred to as “she”?

I’m not sure what my teacher may think of this feminization of pronouns. But if you guys say that I can indeed use “she” and “her”, how may I explain this use, if she wonders, or would it be bad to use a neutral “it” for this class?

Silly question, but I don’t know where else to ask, and I don’t want to be too irreligious or anything. Thanks for your help!

 

[Freshman88]

Choose any of the saints to name your fictitious Church, you can’t go wrong, other popular choices include the various titles of Mary among many other appropriate choices.

Now other posters can correct me if I am mistaken, but when we use the feminine pronoun in reference to the Church, it is the Church as a whole, not a specific parish or Church structure. It would be more appropriate to call it a parish, Church or whatever you decide to name the Church.

 

[Sure]

I’m writing a non-fiction creative essay on a topic of my own choosing, and it is about the Catholic church that sits across the street from my university. I’m tempted to refer to the church as “she is named after St. so and so” and “her bell tower was constructed in”

Would this be appropriate? Or should I refer to the church as “it”?

Also, if it was named after a male saint, would the church still be referred to as “she”?

I’m not sure what my teacher may think of this feminization of pronouns. But if you guys say that I can indeed use “she” and “her”, how may I explain this use, if she wonders, or would it be bad to use a neutral “it” for this class?

Silly question, but I don’t know where else to ask, and I don’t want to be too irreligious or anything. Thanks for your help!

In my experience, the Church (not a building) is referred to as “she”. As in: “Christ’s Church and all her laws.”

I’m not sure I’ve heard it used in reference to a building. But I think you could exercise a bit of creative license there. Expecially, if your story “personifies” the church building as a character in your story. Certainly if you were going to use a gender for the church building, it should be feminine. I guess, write it and see how it sounds. It certainly won’t be offensive either way.