In addition to identifying the components of the worship space, it is very helpful to think of a space in terms of four factors that shape worshiper’s experience. Richard Keickhefer identifies them in Theology in Stone, a book I highly recommend if you desire a detailed scholarly book on the topic. Click the links below to learn more about each one.

Centering Focus — What object occupies the most prominent position in the church?

Spatial Dynamics — How do people move through the space and how does it position them in relation to each other, God, and the world?

Aesthetic Impact — What are the general feelings the space as a whole awakens in worshipers?

Symbolic Resonance — What symbolic associations does the structure, decoration, and furnishings of the space invite the worshiper to make? What stories or ideas does it bring to mind? How does its repeated use inscribe the space with different meanings in worshipers’ experiences?

Click here to continue through this curriculum in the suggested order.

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This post is part of “Spaces for Worship: A Birmingham-Based Introduction,” a section of Magic City Religion, written by David R. Bains, published in 2024, and funded by Samford University’s Center for Worship and the Arts.