Shaped By Space
“We shape our buildings, then our buildings shape us.” — Winston Churchill
We Are Shaped By Space
Space matters because how space is arranged affects us.
When it comes to Liturgy, there is no more important place than being in the presence of God, in unity -- as guests at the banquet table, to give thanks and praise to our Triune God.
Our buildings and layout form us in worship.
The Way We Gather
The space we occupy shapes how we live, relate, pray, and act. Nowhere is this more important than in the place where we celebrate the liturgy in worship of God --- together as the gathered assembly of the Church.
The liturgy is not something we simply “watch” or “attend”—it is something we do together. We are guests at a sacred banquet – not observers. The very arrangement of the space either supports or hinders our participation.​
Space as a Liturgical Act
The first liturgical act of the Eucharistic celebration is the very composition of the space where it unfolds. Space itself can achieve what it signifies.
From the earliest times, Christians recognized that the way they gathered mattered. Jesus prepared a place for the Last Supper, arranging the table so His disciples could share intimacy with Him. Through history, the Church has sought to create spaces where altar, ambo, font, and assembly speak of one shared mystery.
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It is time to move beyond the basilica model — vast pews stretching back like an audience at a performance — and recover the intimacy of the Upper Room, gathered around Word and Eucharist.
Theological Statement in Stone
A church is more than a shelter or backdrop. It is itself a theological statement.
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When the altar is far away, worship risks becoming performance.
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When the community gathers around Word and Table, the Body of Christ is revealed — one People of God, united with Christ at the center.
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Good liturgical space makes visible that worship is not about performers and spectators, but about the whole assembly giving thanks to God together.