Resource Guide for Planning and Design of Church Facilities

Introduction

This resource guide has been produced as an aid to those who are interested in the practical design of church buildings with the goal of constructing a new facility. Typical users would include ministers, pastors, church building committees, church boards and trustees, as well as architects, engineers, and design-build contractors. Although the primary application of this guide is towards praxis, it is hoped that there are also enough reference materials to make this site a portal for those interested in scholarly academic research.

While the focus is on North America and assumes access to high-level libraries, there are also abundant online resources for those who may be outside the large cities, or in countries that have limited access to printed materials. I have included an extended bibliography of practical primary texts that could be purchased by committees for preliminary research, before they commit any serious finances to the design or construction of a potential project.

Contents

Primary Sources

Planning And Building Church Facilities
Gwenn E. McCormick. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1992.
253p. ill., 23 cm., ISBN: 0805430113
Deals with a lot of the basics including property selection, finances, committees, and selection of architects.

Building Plans: For Medium/Large Churches
Fred H Turner. Nashville, Tennessee: Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1991.
32 p., ill. 28 cm.

Church Architecture: Building And Renovating For Christian Worship
James F. White and Susan J. White. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.
176 p. ill, 22 cm. ISBN: 0687081432 DIVINITY NA4810 W45 1998 (LC)
This book deals with some of the theological and liturgical issues in design and renovation of church buildings.

Places For Worship: A Guide To Building And Renovating
Marchita B. Mauck. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1994.
71 p., ill. 21 cm. ISBN: 0814622836 DIVINITY BX1970.3 M38 1995
Looks at form and function from the perspective of gathering, entering, reconciliation, communion, and then going forth.

Churches And Chapels: A Design And Development Guide
Martin Terence Purdy. Oxford, Boston: Butterworth Architecture, 1991.
103 p. ill. 31 cm. ISBN: 0750612223

Building For Effective Mission: A Complete Guide For Congregations On Bricks And Mortar Issues
Kennon L. Callahan. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 2nd ed. 1997.
152 p. 22 cm. ISBN: 0060612800

When Not To Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom For The Growing Church
Ray Bowman, Hall, & Eddy. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1992.
156 p. ill. 22 cm. ISBN: 0801010314
An architect's perspective on timing, finance, mission, and other factors that may cause a church
to reconsider whether they should be building a new facility.

Architecture in Communion: Implementing the Second Vatican Council through Liturgy and Architecture
Steven J. Schloeder. San Francisco: Ignatius Press 1998.
DIVINITY NA4828 S37 1998 (LC)
Drawing on Vatican II texts, this book attempts to deal with the history and future projection of
Catholic architecture. The questions are examined with regard to theology, iconography, symbolism,
sacrament, and parish community.

Re-Pitching The Tent: Reordering The Church Building For Worship And Mission
Richard Giles. Norwich: Canterbury Press, rev. ed., 1999.
255 p. 25 cm. ISBN: 1-85311-245-3 DIVINITY Ministry Resource Center G55
An excellent book that gives a brief history of church architecture before attempting to pave a way to
the future. It has some checklists in the final chapter that would be useful during preliminary design.

Architecture For The Gods
Michael J. Crosbie. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2000.
ART/ARCHITECTURE NA5212 +C76X 1999 (LC)
I have included this book for its excellent photography and the diverse selection of new churches
that are portrayed. Each church featured has an accompanying plan drawing (small) and some
also have sections and elevations. It should help provide inspiration.

Church Builders
Edwin Heathcote and Iona Spens. London: Academy Editions (Division of John Wiley & Sons), 1997.
224 p. over 450 illustrations, ISBN 0-471-97755-1
"This book traces developments in church building through the momentous changes in architecture and
theology of the twentieth century." Great photograpy, plans, sections, etc. Similar to the book above,
which should help stimulate great ideas.

Internet Sites and Electronic Texts

Church Architecture: A Resource Network
Website http://www.churcharchitecture.net/index.html
There are numerous practical resources including lists of architects, acoustic consultants,
financiers, and suppliers of fonts, audio-visual equipment, organs, pews, etc.

Church Construction Connection
Website http://www.churchconstruction.com/
More practical resources including lists of architects, acoustic consultants, financiers, and suppliers
of fonts, audio-visual equipment, organs, pews, etc.

Southern Baptist Convention: Church Architecture
Website http://www.lifeway.com/churcharchitecture/
A good site for many denominations during initial planning stages. Lots of standard forms to
download as well as rules-of-thumb regarding zoning areas, square footage, parking, access,
property selection, etc. These topics will be of concern to any denomination planning a new facility.

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod: Worship Articles
Website http://www.wels.net/worship/articles.html
A worship site for the W.E.L.S. which has about 15 articles on church architecture, along with other worship information.

Baptist General Convention of Texas: Church Facilities
Website http://www.bgct.org/bgctroot/churchfacilities/publications.htm#fact
A Baptist site with a lot of checklists and standard forms that would be useful to any denomination during initial planning stages.

Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship
Guidelines of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
Website http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/livingstonesind.htm
This website has the written text of the architectural guidelines issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Adoremus: Society for the Renewal of Sacred Liturgy
Website http://www.adoremus.org/ArchArticles.html
Documents and Articles of concern to Roman Catholics interested in church architecture and renovation of worship space.

The Built Environment of American Religion: The State of the Art
Website http://www.materialreligion.org/journal/archbiblio.html
A website by Peter W. Williams that attempts to explore the academic research possibilities in church architecture

The Catholic Liturgical Library: Art and Architecture
Website http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/Art/Index/15
A site dedicated to Roman Catholic theology of church architecture. Numerous Roman Catholic articles

Reference Tools

Dictionary of architectural and building technology
Henry J. Cowan and Peter R. Smith with various contributors. 3rd ed., New York: E & FN Spon, 1998.
ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) NA31 C63 1998 (LC)
A similar text to the one listed above but by different authors. If you're spending a few million on
a project, one of these two dictionaries should be in your church library so you can converse in the
language of your architects, engineers, and construction contractors.

Encyclopedia Of Architecture: Design, Engineering & Construction
Joseph A. Wilkes, ed.-in-chief, Robert T. Packard, assoc. ed., New York: Wiley, 1990.
5 vols.: ill. (some col.), plans ; 29 cm. ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) NA31 +E59 1988 (LC)
This is a multi volume work and obviously much more detailed than the two dictionaries listed
above. It tends to cover a lot more historical terms and methods of construction although the
contemporary material is also excellent.

Time-Saver Standards for Building Types (esp. pp. 631-72)
Edited by Joseph De Chiara and John Callender. 3rd ed., New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990.
ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) NA2760 +D42 2001 (LC)
A large and very useful text with lots of design data for numerous building types. The section
on church design is from page 631 to 672 and includes a good basic checklist. I have the 3rd edition
which has 400 more pages than the 4th edition released in 2001.

Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning
Edited by Joseph De Chiara, Julius Panero, & Martin Zelnik. 3rd ed., New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990.
ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) NK2110 +D35X 1991 (LC)
Specializes on interior details and layout of spaces. A checklist section on seating layout, aisles,
and audio-visual systems will be useful for basic reference.

Time-Saver Standards for Architectural Design Data
Edited by John Hancock Callender. 7th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.
ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) TH151 +T55 1997 (LC)
I have the 6th edition which is a constant reference in the preliminary stages of design for any
building. Sections on structures, materials, building components, and environmental design
including acoustics, architectural and day lighting, and audio-visual. It also includes basic design
data for heating, ventilation, and other mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

Journals: Electronic and Print

Church and Worship Technology
Edited by Scott Hoover. Scottsdale, Arizona: Workhorse Publishing.
Serial, 12 per year ISSN: 1531-8206
Another magazine very similar to the one listed above. I have written technical articles for both of
these magazines and they appear to be cutting edge publications on the design and construction of
new church facilities that make a serious attempt to integrate contemporary technology.

Church Production Magazine
Edited by Brian Blackmore. Cary, North Carolina: Production Media Inc.
Serial, 6 per year
"The Educational Magazine for Houses of Worship Covering Audio, Video, and Lighting Technologies"

Faith & Form
Edited by Michael Crosbie. The journal of the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture.
Serial, 3 per year.
The Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture (IFRAA) is since 1995 affiliated with the
American Institute of Architects (AIA). This is their journal which appears three times per year.

Architecture For Spiritual Guidance: Journal Articles On Building, Maintaining, And
Preserving Churches, 1980-1985
Dale E. Casper, Monticello, Illinois: Vance Bibliographies, 1986.
7 p. 28 cm. ISBN: 0890287775 Series ISSN: 0194-1356

Avery Index To Architectural Periodicals
Serial, Avery Library, Columbia University, 1973-
ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) Z 5945 .A93.
Coverage goes back to ca. 1860 in some cases. Indexing data since 1978 are available at the A&A Library
on CD-ROM; and online via the Library home page on the Web http://www.library.yale.edu/art/aa.html
under "direct links to art resources." The Index analyzes all the major architectural periodicals (and many
art history journals) by author and subject. Includes architectural aspects of archeology, interior design
(including mural painting), decorative arts, housing, city planning, landscape architecture, conservation
and restoration.

Electronic Discussion Lists

alt.architecture: building design/construction and related topics.
alt.architecture.alternative: non-traditional building designs.
alt.architecture.int-design: interior design of constructed spaces.
alt.building.architecture:: building industry architecture.
alt.sci.physics.acoustics: acoustics and noise control in auditoriums.
rec.audio.pro: sound system design and installation for auditoriums.
rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft: technical lighting for stage and effect.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

CHURCH FACILITIES
CHURCH BUILDINGS
CHURCH ARCHITECTURE
PROTESTANT CHURCH BUILDINGS
CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILDINGS
ARCHITECTURE AND RELIGION
LITURGY AND ARCHITECTURE
CHURCH DECORATION AND ORNAMENT

Bibliographies

Architecture: A Bibliographical Guide To Basic Reference Works, Histories And Handbooks
Donald L. Ehresmann. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1984.
ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) Ref Z 5941 .E38 1984 (LC)
This is a large volume with extensive lists of resources and reference works in architecture. It tends to
focus more on historical works once the section on Church Architecture is consulted, but the reference
information is quite detailed. It would be a useful reference work for the academic rather than a church
building committee.

Bibliographic guide to art and architecture
New York Public Library. Art and Architecture Division. Boston: G. K. Hall.Boston, G. K. Hall.
Volumes, continuing. ART/ARCHITECTURE (Reference) Z881 N592 +A77A (LC)
A continuing series in a multi-volume set which again, tends to focus on historical works, or
contemporary information on historical works. Not a lot for the practician but great for scholarly
research--especially History of Church Architecture.

Christianity And The Visual Arts: A Bibliography
Diane Peters. Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier University, 1990.
Description: 113 p. 28 cm. ISBN: 0921821107

Worship Space: An Annotated Bibliography
Thomas V. Stehle & Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions. Washington, D.C.: The Federation, 1994.
40 p. 28 cm.

Conservation And Restoration Of Churches: A Bibliography
Mary A. Vance. Monticello, Illinois: Vance Bibliographies, 1982.
11 p. 28 cm. Series ISSN: 0194-1356

Church Architecture: A Bibliographic Guide To Church Architecture In Selected
Municipalities And Regions In The United States
Coppa & Avery Consultants. Monticello, Illinois: Vance Bibliographies, 1980.
10 p. 28 cm. Series ISSN: 0194-1356

Modern Church Architecture: A Guide to the Form and Spirit of 20th Century Religious Buildings.
Albert Christ-Janer. New York: Dodge Book Dept., McGraw-Hill, 1962.

Indexes and Abstracts

Organizations and Institutions

ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG)
Website http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm
The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) guidelines and regulations for the design of new buildings.

International Code Council (ICC)
Website http://www.intlcode.org/
This is the council that guides and provides recommendations for the three building codes used in the
USA. Depending on the area, one of the three regional codes will be used: BOCA, ICBO or SBCCI.
The website has links to these three regional code councils.