A Church Design With Purpose & Permanence

Like so many mid-century built churches, this small town church is an empty auditorium like structure with endless possibilities for beautification. The ceiling, lighting, and speakers are distracting features that fail to add any aesthetic quality to the space. The sanctuary space is undefined from the naive; it is unclear where one space ends and the other begins. The statues in the sanctuary seem to float on the large blueish walls without any sense of permanence and the side chapels are lost in the wall cutouts on either side of the altar. The unfinished nature of the plain architecture causes confusion and distractions from the central focus of the church. This lack of definition and architectural support set the stage for a thoughtful transformation by Canning Liturgical Arts, a church restoration company focused on creating cohesive and spiritually resonant church interiors that enhance the worship experience.

Key Areas of Transformation

Sanctuary & Altar

The most redeeming elements of the worship space are the oak reredos and the verde green marble altar. In the typical mid-century style, these pieces are simple yet thoughtfully designed. The problem with these pieces is not with their design but the placement within the church. The reredos and the altar do not feel permanent within the space. Instead of being ingratiated and appreciated by the surrounding decoration, the altar and the reredos weigh down the center of the room due to the lack of architectural and decorative support from the rest of the church.

Therefore, we approached this space, as we do with all of our projects, with research on the history of the church and of the architecture. We decided to continue the sanctuary space from the reredos in order to define the sanctuary space and create depth on the altar.

The details in the reredos include symbols of the Last Supper, the Passion. The cross pattern, enlarged and shown above, is an expansion design using the lines of the cross to develop a geometric pattern. These design elements are very important because they act as a guide for the beautification plan of the church. In our new design, the walls on either side of the reredos utilized the geometric cross pattern from the reredos and created the same pattern in the woodwork. The vine pattern also appears in the woodwork at the top of the sanctuary wall.

The simple designs found in the reredos are now carried throughout the entirety of the sanctuary, allowing the design to function as a cohesive image instead of pieces unto themselves.

To further emphasize the strength and permanent nature of the sanctuary space, we added giallo sienna marble pilasters. The pilasters in the body of the church are colored a tone of the marble to keep architectural continuity and the established color palette without distracting from the central focus.

Canning Liturgical Arts’ transformation to the interior of the church is supportive to the design but secondary to the sanctuary space, in keeping with the simple mid-century style and to prevent distraction from the central focus of the church.

Ceiling & Lighting

To create a more unified and visually calm environment, attention was first given to simplifying the church's most expansive and disruptive feature—the ceiling. The ceiling has so many breaks and lines that the neatest alternative was to over simplify the ceiling in order to avoid unnecessary attention. Colored in a neutral hue found throughout the church in the new design, the ceiling features new lighting absent from the previously distracting objects such as the speakers.

The updated ceiling design not only simplified the space but also helped create a more serene and spiritually focused environment. Carefully positioned new lighting fixtures now provide even illumination, enhancing visibility while maintaining a soft, inviting ambiance. By removing outdated, bulky elements like speakers and integrating more discreet features, the ceiling became a supportive design element rather than a visual distraction. These upgrades ensured that the focus remained on the sanctuary and its central design elements.

Walls & Architectural Details

The walls and architectural details were thoughtfully enhanced to create a sense of permanence and harmony within the church. To create a distinction between the ceiling and the wall, a Celtic stencil motif was added to border the top of the wall and base of the wall where the plaster meets the marble. The dimensions of these stencils follow classical architectural proportions, and the proportional nature of design is vital to the harmonious nature of the entire design. If an element of design overpowers another the balance of the composition is disrupted.

The previously isolated statues and side chapels were also visually anchored with custom woodwork and marble details, ensuring they became integral features of the space. The new design also thoughtfully considered the stained glass windows featuring vine motifs. Warm tones introduced throughout the walls complemented the cool colors of the stained glass, creating a balanced and cohesive interior that feels both timeless and intentional.

Our Design Philosophy: Purpose & Permanence

Beautification is not difficult, nor does the process need to be expensive. Having a strategic and carefully developed design, however, is integral to achieve a cohesive and beautiful completed project. Every design decision must be intentional, balancing artistic expression with historical and architectural context. Proportionality and harmony play critical roles, ensuring that no single element overwhelms the space but instead contributes to a unified whole. By respecting the church’s existing features while introducing thoughtful enhancements, the design achieves a sense of purpose and permanence that honors both tradition and spiritual reverence. 

Creating Sacred Spaces with Purpose and Permanence

The transformation of this mid-century church demonstrates how thoughtful design can breathe new life into a sacred space. By carefully blending historical elements with cohesive architectural enhancements, the church now reflects a sense of permanence, purpose, and spiritual beauty. Every detail, from the sanctuary’s marble pilasters to the simplified ceiling, contributes to a harmonious environment centered around worship.

Ready to transform your sacred space? See how Canning Liturgical Arts can help bring your vision to life with expert craftsmanship and timeless design.