Round Churches --yeah or nay?

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Our parish is also a semi-round building. And we have a large crucifix, statues, and stained glass.

But, and SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, we have regular Eucaristic adoration, an orthodox, pro-life clergy who all say a beautiful, reverant Norvus Ordo Mass, an orthodox vibrant congregation.

We recently hosted one of the nine International Pilgrim Virgin Statues of Our Lady of Fatima. During the time the statue was here the church was never empty. We had a special time of Eucharistic adoration from noon to midnight on the last day with Mass at noon and midnight. All in a round church that was built in the 70s.
 
I haven’t read the entire thread, and I’m sorry if I’m repeating what someone already posted, but all early churches used to be either round or cross-shaped. At least that’s what I remember from my university Cultural History course. There’s symbolism involved and stuff… 😊 well, that’s all I remember…
 
Walking_Home said:
Yes–bad catechisis is at the core----but a church with the Altar at the front does not in any way or form— re-enforce and emphasize the “meal” aspect of the Mass. On the other hand—a church where the Altar is surrounded by the people — like a dinning table would be at home — would. You may deny it all you want–in which ever way or form—but you cannot disprove–that to one with a malformed understanding of the Mass–where the Mass is a “meal” — the Altar in the center emphasises the meal.
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Have you visited the Hometown Buffet restaurant? Big “altar” of food at the front, all the diners sit out in rows in front of the food.

Walking_Home, have you ever admitted that you might be possibly be a little wrong at times?

If you read this entire thread, I think it’s obvious that round churches are actually more “traditional” than rectangular ones. I have certainly learned a lot and I appreciate all the posts by those who have knowledge of church history and architecture.

Also, I think that this thread contains many posts that prove that the shape of a church does not determine the spirituality of that church.

Walking_Home, if you personally cannot attend Mass in a round church, that’s OK. I hope that you will always have the option of a rectangular church. We are so blessed in the U.S. to have so many choices.
 
How rare is a Catholic Church that has an altar rail where one can receive the Eucharist while kneeling?

I’m a new convert to the Catholic faith and it blows my mind that when I was a Protestant we had altar rails but when I go to the Catholic Church that has the Real Eucharist–they many times don’t have altar rails!

What’s up with that? Wouldn’t Jesus be glorified more in our worship of Him if we all received communion on the tongue while kneeling at an Altar Rail?

I’ve never been to TLM but this seems like a no brainer!

When did receiving the Eucharist at the altar rail go out the window?

Also if a new Catholic parrish is being established woud that parrish have to get permission of the diocesan bishop to build its new church with altar rails?

And if TLM will be celebrated more in all Catholic Churches shouldn’t some effort be made at either bringing altar rails back or at least when constructing new Catholic Churches at least having altar rails at them?

What percentage of Catholic Churches that reularly have TLM celebrated have altar rails and what percentage of those churches don’t have altar rails?
 
My home parish church was built in the early seventy’s. It’s round, actually it’s shaped like a dove, but you don’t see that from ground level. Our priests there were very spiritual and holy men. To this day, it’s a church I like going to.
The church in my present parish is old and traditionally built, i.e. main alter and two side alters (Our Lady’s and St. Joseph’s). Unfortunately, our priest has his own way of doing things and I find it very hard to concentrate at Mass.
It’s not the shape of building that’s important but what goes on inside that counts.

Beauty is only skin deep after all.😉
 
Jerry-Jet said:
Also if a new Catholic parrish is being established woud that parrish have to get permission of the diocesan bishop to build its new church with altar rails?
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Yes. The bishop must approve the design of a new church.
 
I have really laughed at some of the responses on this thread!😃

You people are really silly if you think the design of the church building has anything to do with anything.

If people in your church don’t genuflect, if communion is given wrong, if statues are missing, if stainglass is missing… it isn’t the building’s fault. Sounds like the congregation via the priest.

The shape of the building does not a church make!
 
Catholic_Kat said:
I never feel like I’m in a Catholic Church when I attend one that is round. It feels so Protestant. Most round churches lack statues, stained glass windows depicting the lives of the saints, a “true” alter, stations of the cross, and even a traditional crucifix at the front of the church. One round church I attended, had a wood carving of Jesus, fully clothed, standing with his arms raised and that was the ONLY image in the entire church.

I also noticed that no one seems to genuflect or “act” as Catholic in these churches. They always tend to act more Protestant.
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Round does not mean Protestant. I grew up in the Methodist Church, it was very traditional. When modern Churches were built both Catholic and Protestant experimented with the round concept. I don’t see the big problem with it. 🤷🙂
 
pyropam said:
I have really laughed at some of the responses on this thread!😃

You people are really silly if you think the design of the church building has anything to do with anything.

If people in your church don’t genuflect, if communion is given wrong, if statues are missing, if stainglass is missing… it isn’t the building’s fault. Sounds like the congregation via the priest.

The shape of the building does not a church make!
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There is a book, Ugly As Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again, which actually has this topic as the entire thesis. In it, the author argues that changing our churches from sacred churches to a more non-denominational meeting house reflects liturgical reductionism. And that when Vatican II encouraged active participation in the Mass, the circular modern churches actually went against Vatican II’s intentions. The author cites that many modern churches actually hinder prayer and that many architects had an anti-catholic agenda when they designed these more modern churches. He goes on to say that many of the church designs approved by parishes actually mirror the liturgy of that parish --untraditional, modern. So, maybe there is something to church design reflecting/influencing the way people praise God.
 
Catholic_Kat said:
There is a book, Ugly As Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again, which actually has this topic as the entire thesis. In it, the author argues that changing our churches from sacred churches to a more non-denominational meeting house reflects liturgical reductionism. And that when Vatican II encouraged active participation in the Mass, the circular modern churches actually went against Vatican II’s intentions. The author cites that many modern churches actually hinder prayer and that many architects had an anti-catholic agenda when they designed these more modern churches. He goes on to say that many of the church designs approved by parishes actually mirror the liturgy of that parish --untraditional, modern. So, maybe there is something to church design reflecting/influencing the way people praise God.
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In other words, more round churches should be built, as they are the most traditional and therefore, the most conducive to worship, right?
 
I got an idea! Lets build a church with a traditional setting, High Altar, Statues etc… then a side extension with a round type setting no statues , crucifix etc…then a samll roon for children with slides, sandbox etc… and a Holy Music room for teens that plays christian rock …then a snooze room for meditators…kinda something for everyone. Clow Ministry would fit in nicely.👍 I attended a round church in Pittsburgh. I thought I was in the Civic Arena for a concert. Noisiest church I’ve ever been to.
 
Silver_Thread said:
I got an idea! Lets build a church with a traditional setting, High Altar, Statues etc… then a side extension with a round type setting no statues , crucifix etc…then a samll roon for children with slides, sandbox etc… and a Holy Music room for teens that plays christian rock …then a snooze room for meditators…kinda something for everyone. Clow Ministry would fit in nicely.👍 I attended a round church in Pittsburgh. I thought I was in the Civic Arena for a concert. Noisiest church I’ve ever been to.
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You seem, rather illogically, to imply that round churches mean no statues or crucifixes. Did you bother to look at the photos via the links to the churches provided in this thread. I think you’ll find that they have a plenitude of crucifixes and statues. And how many statues does a church have to have to be “orthodox?”
 
It’s the priest and the liturgy that really affect the way people pray. Certainly, architecture should reflect the realities of our Faith but that alone does not determine the reverence. I have been to far too many beautiful traditional churches with horrible liturgies and a some modern churches with wonderful liturgies.
 
Catholic_Kat said:
Did you feel that parishoners acted “less” Catholic in the round church?

My parents attend a round church in Colorado and they don’t even have kneelers! The parishoners were instructed to stand after receiving the Lord. I also noticed that every time I attended a round Church, the priest didn’t take the Mass as seriously. One recent experience I had in a round church, the priest joked throughout the Mass and after the Mass before the final blessing, he came forward with the left over Eucharists on a tray and holding them over his head like a waiter said to the congregation, “We’ve got some extras, anyone want to take some home?” Two people came forward and took them!! I was mortified and nearly started crying.

These types of things always happen at the round churches I’ve been to, but never at the traditional shaped ones.
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This priest seems to have lost his faith!!! Re the round churches - if you are looking at other people, which cannot be avoided, how can you focus as well on Jesus and what is going on at the altar? Not for me, thanks.
 
anamchara said:
Round does not mean Protestant. I grew up in the Methodist Church, it was very traditional. When modern Churches were built both Catholic and Protestant experimented with the round concept. I don’t see the big problem with it. 🤷🙂
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Every non-Catholic Christian church that I have been in has been traditionally built; that is rectangular with pulpits and altar rails.

On the other hand, when I lived in Japan, the Catholic women’s group visited a newly built Buddhist temple. I was excused from school so that I could go with my mother. It was considered a cultural experience. This temple was round and made of pink marble. There were close circuit televisions so that services could be viewed throughout the temple. This includes in the cafeteria that was located in the basement. The temple was beautifully built.

For me, the main difference between non-Catholic Christian churches and Roman Catholic churches is the cross instead of the crucifix. The crucifix represents what Jesus endured that makes the Resurrection such a glorious event.
 
i was going to mention the parish where lizzanne attends, but puzzpleannie and Wander Aimlessly beat me to it. It was built way back when, and it is sorta round, sorta not- and beautiful! Best part of Michigan! And it has a baldachino!!!
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Church buildings in the East, tend to be round, verses rectangular. In fact, the rectangle shape of church buildings, began after Constantine gave the Church, government buildings to use, which were rectangular and had a seating arrangement that of a court. Early Christians on the Middle East, celebrated Mass in a semi-circle, around the alter. Modern round church buildings are closer to early Christianity than rectangular ones.

In fact, the Eastern, Orthodox Church’s tend to have a dome, above the altar, with the seats around the altar.

Jim
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I have yet to have seen an Orthodox church with seats around the altar with the exception of seats for those assisting with liturgy in the sanctuary of the church, where the laity are not permitted. True, many churches look round (or square) from the outside, but the sanctuary is seperate from the nave with all of the congregation sitting (or more likely standing) in the same direction.
 
JKirkLVNV said:
You seem, rather illogically, to imply that round churches mean no statues or crucifixes. Did you bother to look at the photos via the links to the churches provided in this thread. I think you’ll find that they have a plenitude of crucifixes and statues. And how many statues does a church have to have to be “orthodox?”
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I didn’t mean to imply that at all… Remember this is my fictitious church and I can build it any way I want. LOL.
 
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