CHURCH, (Greek, Kvptov omoc, the Lord's house,) a Christian edifice set apart tor the public celebration of divine service.
Churches vary in size, magnificence, and architectural features. according to their rank and situation ; and are denominated accordingly : thus we have metropolitan, patriarchal, cathedral, cardinal, conventual, collegiate, monastic, and parish churches ; for a description of which, we must refer to each separate title, more especially to CATIIEnRAL and MONASTERY. Under this article we shall confine ourselves more particularly to the consideration of parish churches; as, however, the distribution and architec tural peculiarities of churches vary considerably in different countries, we must premise further, that we include only the parish churches of' our own country. The history and pro. gress of Church Architecture in this and other countries, and a comparison of the whole, will be treated of under the title of ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE.
As there is a general similarity in the division and arrange ment of parts in all churches of whatever date or situation, it may not be out of place at the commencement of this article, to say something of the primitive churches, as far as relates to these particulars. The earliest buildings erected for the purpose of Christian worship, or at least the earliest of which we have any account, as also the first in which Christians had an opportunity of following their own mode of construction, are those which owe their existence to the zeal of Constantine the Great ; and the most ancient and most perfect model of these now remaining, is that of Saint Clement at Rome. From this and sonic few other structures at Rome, we are enabled to determine, to a certain extent, the form of the churches of that period ; and our conclusions derived from this source, are confirmed by Eusebius, who has left us a description of a Greek church of his own time. From these combined authorities, we learn that the plans of such buildings were either oblong or cruciform, and were divided into distinct portions as follows the entrance to the church was the vestibule or narthex. in which were stationed the catechumens and penitents of various stages, and which was frequently divided into two or more parts. each of which was destined for a different class of penitents, the outermost for those who were under the more severe censures of the church, and the innermost for the catechumens; this last division was termed vap04 ferule, because those who were admitted into it, began to be subject to the disci pline of the church. These vestibules or porticos led to the
nave properly so called, in which were assembled the body of the fitithfill ; and which was divided in its width into three or more parts—a central one, with an aisle on each side of it. In the central avenue or body of the building, and at the remote end of the nave, was the choir, shut off from the other parts of the church by a rail or otherwise ; in this were the amboues or pulpits for reading, as also the seats for the choristers, and here was the greater portion of the service From the choir was an ascent of steps to the sanctuary, which was of an apsidal form, having seats all round for• the priests. and a more elevated one in the centre of them for the bishop, immediately in front of which stood the altar. Attached to the church, but flaming a distinct erection, was the baptistery, in which persons were admitted into fellowship with the of believers. having thus given a rapid sketch of a primitive church, we shall pass to the consideration of our more immediate subject, begging our readers to bear in mind the precaling observations, while we describe the form and arrangement of our English churches.
In of our parochial churches, we would be under stood to refer solely to those erected before the Reformation, in the styles usually denominated Gothic.. This is ;tot the place, even were argument necessary, to discuss the com parative merits of the Italian and Gothic styles, or their adaptation to sacred purposes. The improved taste of the age has led to the preference of the latter, and there are few of the present day who would be found to question its cor rectness. Gothic is the prevailing filshion now, as was Italian in the preceding generations ; apart from this, how ever, we think there can be no man of correct taste and unbiassed judgment, but would prefer the quiet unobtrusive simplicity of our old parish churches, to the more pompous grandeur of those of the last two centuries. Nothing can be more diverse than the impressions conveyed by the two— the one, solemn, subdued, and peacefill ; the other, secular, showy, and luxurious: it is astonishing how completely the application of the two styles to the same general form, will change the features and general appearance of an edifice.