Discover Some Engrossing Features About Churches And Its Evolution

By Timothy Reed


Men and women today who were brought up by religious parents or family members are often familiar with churches. These places are established with the purpose of creating a secure spot for people who share similar beliefs to come together and worship as one. This is to honor their gods, whom they believe is responsible for giving them the life that they live.

Aside from worship and prayer, it serves plenty of other purposes as well, and is easily identifiable through the excessive usage of crosses. This article will be focusing on some interesting facts about Fort Lauderdale Churches, which will be brought into more detail in the succeeding paragraphs. This will not only focus on its history, but also on its other aspects in culture and society.

During its earliest forms, these establishments used to built in such a way that it emulated a cross shape. That is because this shape is considered a holy symbol in various religions, and has a deeper meaning to its practitioners. It was so overused that the aisle was comprised of the longest portion of the cross, as it stretched out to its base, where the altar would be found. While this has changed significantly, some still maintain the same design.

According to historians, the first one was established approximately around 223 to 256. It was only during the eleventh century that cathedrals and smaller sized parish churches began to rise in popularity, particularly in Western Europe. Be aware though, that cathedrals were of often used by other religions as well, which include Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Eastern Orthodox.

Using the old testament as reference material, Christians used to gather in groups and take turns holding their worship ceremonies in homes. It was during these sessions that they discussed the teachings of their lord and pray together. When the crowd was too much for a simple house to handle, they would transfer to synagogues instead.

In Europe during the time period of one thousand to 1200 AD, a new aesthetic was being formulated. It was called Romanesque because it has plenty of elements and components that were inspired by more traditional Roman style work. This was determined through the overuse of arches in a circular shape, towers that were octagonal, and having groined vaults. Rooms were made wider as well, and statues were made with more detail.

Once the excitement of Romanesque started to die down, another style that emerged from France become a common trend. This style is called Gothic architecture, and it focused primarily in its use of symbols, rather than emphasizing on beautification. Today, you can tell when a structure is influenced by it because they use buttresses, install rib vaults, and use pointed arches.

By the time the fifteenth and sixteenth century rolled in, there were plenty of changes with regard to the ethics of men and women in their respective societies. As a result, the Renaissance period was born, wherein it appeared to be a more simplified version of Gothic architecture. While the basilica was the most popular type in the past, it was quickly replaced by hall churches instead.

Nowadays, more of these religious establishments are built to cater to more practitioners and believers. However, this results in abandoned churches that no longer serve a purpose. To avoid letting this go to waste, the local government usually converts them into conference room, meeting areas, and even historical museums.




About the Author: