When designing your sanctuary, you need to be strategic about where you spend your money. No one has an unlimited budget. If you’re currently building a new church or redesigning a current space, here are four areas of your sanctuary that make the biggest impact. These are the areas you may want to spend more on, while cutting costs in other places.
Stage
A lot can happen on a church stage, from Spirit-filled preaching to worship band performances. It only makes sense to invest in a durable stage. After all, this is one of the areas of your church that will get the most use.
If your church is a multipurpose space or if you rent space from some other organization, consider a portable stage so you can move it as needed.
Choir/Music Area
Nearly every church incorporates music into its services, whether that be a worship band or a traditional choir. While a stage can serve as a platform for music, some churches are more traditional in their setup and a stage would seem out-of-place. For these types of churches, a dedicated music/choir area is more appropriate. This can include an organ or piano, audio equipment, choral risers, and/or choir seating.
Entrance
While technically not part of the sanctuary, the entrance to your church is important nonetheless. This is where guests form their first impression of your congregation. Take time to evaluate the exterior and interior and try to imagine the impression you would have as a first-time visitor. Is the area in good condition, or could it use some repairs? Little things like peeling paint, faded signage, stained carpet, or battered furniture may send the wrong message. Invest in getting the entrance right, and you will draw new people into your church.
Seating
The seating area is perhaps the most important part of the sanctuary, as it is where your entire congregation participates in worship. You want to make sure the seats you invest in are durable, comfortable, and attractive. The sanctuary seating should also match your church’s worship style. Traditional churches will probably choose pews. If you’re a modern congregation, church chairs probably make more sense than pews.
If you’re looking to invest in new seating for your sanctuary, ChurchPlaza has a wide selection of church chairs. We use quality components such as virgin foam, 16-gauge steel, and true plywood foundations.
How to Decide Where to Invest in Your Church Sanctuary
Perhaps you only have the budget to invest in one of these areas. How should you decide where the money will go? Here are a few points to consider:
- What is at the heart of your worship? Is it grounded in praise and worship music, the sermon, or God’s word?
- Where is the area of greatest need?
- What does the majority of your congregation want?
By taking these factors into account and bringing the decision to prayer, you can come up with the best solution for your congregation.
