Liturgical east and west is a concept in the orientation of churches. It refers to the fact that the end of a church which has the altar, for symbolicreligious reasons, is traditionally on the east side of the church (to the right in a diagram).
A schematic plan showing the elements and orientation that are common to many churches
Traditionally churches are constructed so that during the celebration of the morning liturgy the priest and congregation face towards the rising sun, a symbol of Christ and the Second Coming.[1] However, frequently the building cannot be built to match liturgical direction. In parish churches, liturgical directions often do not coincide with geography; even in cathedrals, liturgical and geographic directions can be in almost precise opposition (for example, at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle, liturgical east is nearly due west).
St Paul's, Covent Garden, London, 1631, by Inigo Jones. This is the east facade of the church, and the doorway is blocked; the altar is behind the wall
For convenience, churches are always described as though the end with the main altar is at the east, whatever the reality, with the other ends and sides described accordingly. Therefore common terms such as "east end", "west door", "north aisle" etc are immediately comprehensible. These orientations may be preceded by "liturgical", or not.[2] In a typical Western church, such as the one illustrated, the "back" of the church is therefore the west end, and as the visitor moves up the aisle towards the main altar the north side is to the left, and the south to the right.
A relatively unusual example of a church where the correct liturgical orientation was regarded as important, and overrode architectural considerations, is St Paul's, Covent Garden in London, of 1631, by Inigo Jones. This was the first completely new English church since the English Reformation, and given a site on the west side of the new Covent Garden development. Jones seems to have designed the church with three doors on the east end, leading down steps to the square, and under a grand classical temple portico; inside, the sanctuary and altar were at the opposite west end. However, it appears there were objections to this arrangement, and when the church opened the three doors onto the square were blocked off, and the entrance to the church was through the west end, with the sanctuary and altar at the "correct" east end.[3]
Referencesedit
^"Facing East". Catholic Culture. October 1999. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
^"East" in Curl, James Stephens, Encyclopaedia of Architectural Terms, 1993, Donhead Publishing, ISBN1873394047, 9781873394045
^Summerson, John, Architecture in Britain, 1530-1830, pp. 125-126, 1991 (8th edn., revised), Penguin, Pelican history of art, ISBN0140560033
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liturgical, east, west, concept, orientation, churches, refers, fact, that, church, which, altar, symbolic, religious, reasons, traditionally, east, side, church, right, diagram, schematic, plan, showing, elements, orientation, that, common, many, churchestrad. Liturgical east and west is a concept in the orientation of churches It refers to the fact that the end of a church which has the altar for symbolic religious reasons is traditionally on the east side of the church to the right in a diagram A schematic plan showing the elements and orientation that are common to many churchesTraditionally churches are constructed so that during the celebration of the morning liturgy the priest and congregation face towards the rising sun a symbol of Christ and the Second Coming 1 However frequently the building cannot be built to match liturgical direction In parish churches liturgical directions often do not coincide with geography even in cathedrals liturgical and geographic directions can be in almost precise opposition for example at St Mark s Episcopal Cathedral Seattle liturgical east is nearly due west St Paul s Covent Garden London 1631 by Inigo Jones This is the east facade of the church and the doorway is blocked the altar is behind the wallFor convenience churches are always described as though the end with the main altar is at the east whatever the reality with the other ends and sides described accordingly Therefore common terms such as east end west door north aisle etc are immediately comprehensible These orientations may be preceded by liturgical or not 2 In a typical Western church such as the one illustrated the back of the church is therefore the west end and as the visitor moves up the aisle towards the main altar the north side is to the left and the south to the right A relatively unusual example of a church where the correct liturgical orientation was regarded as important and overrode architectural considerations is St Paul s Covent Garden in London of 1631 by Inigo Jones This was the first completely new English church since the English Reformation and given a site on the west side of the new Covent Garden development Jones seems to have designed the church with three doors on the east end leading down steps to the square and under a grand classical temple portico inside the sanctuary and altar were at the opposite west end However it appears there were objections to this arrangement and when the church opened the three doors onto the square were blocked off and the entrance to the church was through the west end with the sanctuary and altar at the correct east end 3 References edit Facing East Catholic Culture October 1999 Retrieved 25 February 2014 East in Curl James Stephens Encyclopaedia of Architectural Terms 1993 Donhead Publishing ISBN 1873394047 9781873394045 Summerson John Architecture in Britain 1530 1830 pp 125 126 1991 8th edn revised Penguin Pelican history of art ISBN 0140560033 nbsp This article about the architecture of churches or other Christian places of worship is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liturgical east and west amp oldid 1199994025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
