Sacred geometry is a part of the world's religions. It is found in ancient Africa, the ancient Middle East, ancient China and Asia and tribes in America. Methods of determining the spread of humans around the earth from artifacts fossils and cave painting it is possible to gain a temporal map of early humans and the cultures of these early humans. There is a common cultural trait amongst humans that have spread around the world in that of religion and the belief in God. These faiths involve a sacred geometry that is used to explain the beliefs of their cultures and can be found by archaeology in their architecture and objects of these cultures. During the phases of the ages such as the Bronze and Iron age, we find the use and knowledge of crystal geometry in forming metal tools in forges and the common geometric patterns in jewelry & symbols of these cultures. Science uses mathematics as an expression of scientific thought and geometry is used as an explanation of life on earth from fractal patterns in nature and Fibonacci to the golden Ratio and the movement and formation of the elements of the universe. If we all share this same interest in mathematics as an explanation of the world then why is there so much disagreement around the world in our religions and their deniers? This might sound like a naive question. However I wondered how Christianity could shed some light on this as they believe in the Trinity, a triangle of the form of God?

In several Catholic churches online, I have seen grilles used in large sections of the side walls. These are obviously not gates as they could not be opened. I was thinking it might be a "window grille" but had some doubts since they extend to the floor of the church. I tried searching for the specific term for these church elements but could not find any information. is an image from Wikimedia Commons (photo uploaded by Judgefloro).

I was watching a video series on the Rosary at a men's group this morning and they were talking about all the popes on the walls at the [Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_Outside_the_Walls) and it was mentioned that it was super cool that all the Popes were on the walls - I think the portraits of the Popes roughly matches what is [on the scrollbar of the vatican.va site](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/86360/10672) . What I'm wondering (and this is not wholly idle speculation because maybe when they run out of space we'll be at the last Pope and that'll mark the eschaton) is how many spaces do they have left and is there a plan for where they'd put popes if they do run out of space? I've never been there before so maybe I'm off base and there are choirs of popes and they won't have a problem for 3000 years, but I think the question can still be answered either way.

**Looking for sources of Mediaeval church architecture that shows and\or explains hard to find architectural church additions?** I can recall visiting some old Medieval churches while in France and one parish church in particular had a sort of exterior door that opened to an outdoor pulpit that could only be accessed from the interior of the church. It was explained to me that in times of old this was used by the ***"porter"*** or other church ecclesiastic to announce the weekly news and events after mass on Sundays and other major ecclesiastical celebrations. I would like to know the name of this particular addition to the church. I was told the name some years ago, but cannot recall it. Perhaps it was something along the lines of the Latin word: ***Praeconium***. This should not be confused with the ***Praeconium Pascale*** or **Easter Exsultet** which was proclaimed from the pulpit. If a source of this piece (type) of Medieval architecture has a name I would greatly appreciate it, even if it is in Latin only. This architectural design should not be confused with what was known as the ***ambo*** or the wooden pulpit was can still be easily be found in many churches today. > In Western Catholic Churches, the stand used for readings and homilies is formally called the ***ambo***. Despite its name, this structure usually more closely resembles a lectern than the ambon of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The readings are typically read from an ambo in the sanctuary, and depending on the arrangement of the church, the homily may be delivered from a raised pulpit where there is one. [Pulpit](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulpit) The pulpit of the Notre-Dame de Revel in Revel, Haute-Garonne, France. If one can find other unique styles of Church additions from the Middle Ages, I would be equally interested also. In case this is unobtainable, I would would consider accepting a well defined sources that had other information that is explicitly explaining hard to find historical church additions.

This is not just a church architecture question but also a theology question. I've noticed that the tabernacle where the consecrated hosts are stored is often located in the center of the older Catholic churches, behind the altar, so when you enter the church, it is a focal point. But in more contemporary churches, the tabernacle is somewhere else and instead when you enter the church you see chairs where the priests sit. I would like to understand why this change occurred. Was there a change in theology? The message the newer layout sends compared to the old is that the priest has displaced the tabernacle. Surely that can't be the intended effect?

I am in the process of writing a paper about the bronze column commissioned by Bernwardus Hildesheimiensis, the bishop founder of Benedictine Monastery of St. Michael in Hildesheim, completed approximately between 1015-1022. The question I am trying to answer is who could actually see this monument. There are various theories about why such an expensive and technologically advanced bronze sculpture was created and erected in a "frontier" place like Hildesheim (barely a town, more a muddy farmer village) at the turn of the 10th to the 11th century. One of the theories is that it was supposed to impress the pagan Slavic populations that were being Christianized in this era. The intention was to show Christian superiority in both faith and as an advanced civilisation. But as it was positioned inside an abbey church, there was certainly no pagan who would have seen it. My question is thus: **Who could see this column apart from the clerics? How could it help spread the Gospel and help the conversion to Christianity of the Slavic people?**

In churches or cathedrals that have a special room for making/preparing the sacramental bread, does this room have a special name? Edit: I'm wondering because I saw a room in an Eastern Orthodox cathedral where the windows were clouded over, apparently because they cook the sacramental bread in there. I was wondering whether that kind of room has a special name, or is it okay to just call it a kitchen?

During a recent visit to Canterbury Cathedral particular circular patterns on the floors (pictured) reminded me of the circular patterns of Mandalas . I was wondering if these are simply 'for decoration' in the cases pictured or whether there is a Christian equivalent of Mandala or that same style of artwork?

Christians build churches - it's what we do. Are there any estimates of how many physical church buildings Christians have built over the centuries, broken down by century? Suitable proxies: - number of towns and cities that have a church. - number of monasteries (smaller, but maybe people more likely to count them) **I am particularly interested in the period from Emperor Constantine (4th century) through 1000 AD.** Mostly interested in seeing rough growth pattern. If numbers are only for Western Europe (Roman Catholic), please specify. That will also be acceptable.

Wikipedia has an article on Kingdom Halls that states: > In many countries, a number of standard designs of construction are used that can be built in just a few days. The act of constructing a Kingdom Hall in this manner is called a quick-build, although typically the preparation work involving the structural foundation and surrounding surface may take several weeks prior to the scheduled build. For various reasons, not all Kingdom Halls are constructed as quick-builds or using the standard designs. Seeing many issues that can go wrong with building something so quickly I figure there is some sort of theological importance in doing this, however, not all are *quick-builds*, so it cannot be all that important. Why do Jehovah's Witnesses build their Kingdom Halls in three days? Please provide quotes and links to official sources

I found this article about a time capsule found in a Catholic Church in Singapore quite interesting: 173-year-old time capsule unearthed at Singapore's oldest Catholic church > A 173-year-old time capsule and granite foundation stone of the country's oldest Catholic church have been unearthed, in what experts describe as a "rare discovery". > > Contractors found the hitherto missing capsule and foundation stone earlier this year while restoring the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd along Queen Street. > > The time capsule - possibly the oldest one found here - comprises publications such as a prayer booklet and newspapers from 1843, as well as 24 international 18th- and 19th-century coins and tokens. A foundation stone, or cornerstone, is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. Does the Catholic Church have any regulations (rules, laws or norms) on placing a time capsule in the foundation of a church or cathedral? What may placed in such a time capsule? As a bonus question: What is the oldest known recorded evidence of a time capsule ever been employed in the Catholic architecture of a church or cathedral?

There's typically a low wall, about hip-high, in front of the first row of the choir. Religious architecture typically has its own terminology, and Christian architecture in particular. So is there a special name for that wall? Or is it just "that wall that keeps the first row of ladies from being embarrassed?" Alternately, is there a name for the low wall that's sometimes in front of the first row of the congregation?

What purpose do steeples serve? Are they put high up on church buildings as some sort of marketing tool so it can be seen from far away or is there some other reason(s)?

Many Christian churches incorporate stained glass windows into their design. Some members have noted that the use of stained glass windows in architectural design pre-dates Christianity. That being said, I'm more concerned with their incorporation into Christian architecture, which I assume would have been done first by Orthodox Christianity or Roman Catholicism. 1. What denomination or branch of Christianity first incorporated stained glass windows into their places of worship? 2. Why were stained glass windows used (aside from the common utility of a window), and why are they still used today? 3. Is there a Church tradition that they *must* be used in the design of a church?

Is it a monument of sort, build by the prophet of Jehovah's Witnesses in remembrance of all the Old Testament prophet? I also understand that there are altars in this building in honour of each of the Old Testament Prophets. I am not sure how far this is true and would like to know from someone, the beliefs that make this building so special.