Posted on 04/07/2008 8:06:18 AM PDT by Between the Lines
Unchurched Americans prefer churches that look more like a medieval cathedral over contemporary church buildings, a new study showed.
Although billions of dollars have been spent on church buildings and more contemporary designs, church attendance has declined, said Jim Couchenour, director of marketing and ministry services for Cogun Inc., a founding member of Cornerstone Knowledge Network. The network was thus prompted to ask, "As church builders what can we do to help church leaders be more intentional about reaching people who don’t go to church?"
In a study conducted by LifeWay Research for Cornerstone Knowledge Network, the unchurched preferred more traditional looking buildings by a nearly 2-to-1 ratio over any other option. Given 100 "preference points" to allocate among four photos of church exteriors, the unchurched used an average of 47.7 points on the most traditional and Gothic options.
The other three options were given only 18.5 to 15.9 points.
"Quite honestly, this research surprised us," said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research and LifeWay Christian Resource’s missiologist in residence. "We expected they’d choose the more contemporary options, but they were clearly more drawn to the aesthetics of the Gothic building than the run-of-the-mill, modern church building."
Stetzer believes unchurched Americans may be drawn to the look of the Gothic cathedral because it speaks to a connectedness to the past.
Young unchurched people particularly preferred the traditional look. Those between the ages of 25 to 34 gave an average of 58.9 of their 100 preference points to the more Gothic church exterior while those over the age of 70 gave that option only an average of 32.9 points.
One survey respondent said modern churches "seem cold."
"I like the smell of candles burning, stained-glass windows, [and] an intimacy that’s transcendent," the respondent said.
"We may have been designing buildings based on what we think the unchurched would prefer," Couchenour noted. "While multi-use space is the most efficient, we need to ask, ‘Are there ways to dress up that big rectangular box in ways that would be more appealing to the unchurched?’"
Most churches that look like a cathedral, however, are in decline, Stetzer pointed out.
"Buildings don’t reach people, people do," Stetzer said. "But if churches are looking to build and are trying to reach the unchurched, they should take into consideration the kind of building. Costs and other considerations will play into the decision, but the preferences of the unchurched should be considered as well."
Survey results showed that more than half of the unchurched said the design of a church building would impact their enjoyment of a visit to church. Twenty-two percent said the design of the church would strongly impact their enjoyment of the visit and 32 percent indicated it would have some impact. More than a third said it would have no impact whatsoever on their visit.
The survey was conducted on 1,684 unchurched adults on Feb. 4 and 5. Unchurched people are defined as those who had not attended a church, mosque or synagogue in the past six months except for religious holidays or special events.
There are plenty of purely secular auditoriums and movie theaters, after all.
Beautiful churches are either filled by a paltry amount of silver-headed people who demand "tolerance" to all forms of immoral behavior.
Masses of young singles, families as well as elderly believers, flock to unconventional sites in rented schools, theaters and "big box" mega-churches where the Word is rightly delievered.
If showed me a picture of the oldest Gothic-ish church in Charlotte, and then a picture of St. Luke’s Multipurpose Parochial Facility, and asked which I liked best, I’d pick the elegant Uptown building. However, I don’t go to church there, do I?
Neither do the “unchurched,” as others are pointing out. Of course, by definition the “unchurched” don’t go to church anywhere :-), but when they decide to be churched, they seem to be joining congregations that meet in the high school auditorium or the senior citizens’ meeting room.
Interesting post
a. Why do we care what the unchurched think? Church is there for the believers, not the pagans. IOW, church is the goal of evangelism, not the place for it.
b. I would bet the “churched” would prefer something a bit more traditional than an “early Wal-mart” worship center.
Speaking just for myself, finding out where our tithes were going was the deal breaker, not the building.
i’m churched and i prefer aesthitically beautiful buildings to the ugly corporate-looking buildings that are Protestant churches today... unfortunately for me, i cannot find an aesthetically beautiful Protestant church... sometimes i think i’d rather go worship in an old barn...
That certainly makes sense.
Not only do I like the ancient styles of building and design, I much prefer the ancient liturgical style of worship to the more modern preaching
Some of the modern church buildings are among the ugliest bldgs. ever built, IMO—huge expanses of asphalt shingles & discordant angles that are just plain awful.
Why do we care what the unchurched think?
A-—many of us were unchurched once, or at least less observant. To win them over, you must show them why you have a good case. Beautiful churches, ancient liturgical ceremonies, real Christian charity and concern for those around you, and setting a good example in how you live your life, in my humble opinion, do a lot more and go much farther to win converts than do things like Chick Tracts, Creation Science museums and aggressive prostelyzation
The gospel is what wins people over.
If they are there for the reasons you provide I wonder if they are tares among the wheat.
It is sad that we have managed to twist all of that!
The church building is God’s billboard. Let’s get it right.
I’m pretty sure I read in my art history book that the cathedrals were specifically designed to point toward heaven. The stained glass was to tell the Gospel story in pictures, since most people back then couldn’t read, and the design of a long nave was to be reminiscent of a ship (”the barque of Peter”). (Later the crossings were added to make the design into a cross.) The craftsmen who worked on them made it their life’s work and gave their best for the Glory of God. I’ve been to churches and cathedrals all over England and Scotland, and they are breathtakingly inspiring, from St. Margaret of Scotland’s tiny chapel in the Castle to Canterbury and of course Westminster Abbey. When listening to an album such as “Faire is the Heaven - Music of the English Church” recorded by John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers in the Lady Chapel at Ely Cathedral, one is actually able to “hear” the beauty of the gothic architecture!
God is Himself Beauty, Truth, and Goodness, and people are attracted to things which remind them of Him and of Heaven.
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