A hall church is a
church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* C ...
with a
nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
and
aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of non-walking spaces on both sides. Aisles with seating on both sides can be seen in airplanes, certain types of buildings, such as churches, cathedrals, synagogues, meeting halls, parl ...
s of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was invented in the mid-19th century by
Wilhelm Lübke, a pioneering German art historian. In contrast to an
architectural basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its nam ...
, where the nave is lit from above by the
clerestory
In architecture, a clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey) is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both.
Historically, ''clerestory'' denoted an upper l ...
, a hall church is lit by the windows of the side walls typically spanning almost the full height of the interior.
Terms
In English language, there are two problems of terminology on hall churches:
* The term ''hall church'' is ambiguous because the term ''hall'' is ambiguous. In some cases, the church of a
manor house
A manor house was historically the main residence of the lord of the manor. The house formed the administrative centre of a manor in the European feudal system; within its great hall were held the lord's manorial courts, communal meals w ...
("hall") is called a hall church. Regarding the shapes of churches, ''hall church'' is also used for large
aisleless churches, an entirely different type. Aisleless churches with a rectangular plan are called in Dutch and in German, ''/'', derived from French , marking large rooms of less extent than ''/''.
* The obligatory distinction between ''nave'' and ''aisle'', which does not exist in other European languages, is inappropriate for many hall churches. In Dutch the ('ship', entire nave) can consist of two, three or more parallel (), and the ('choir, chancel') can do as well.
History
The first churches with naves and aisles of equal height were crypts. The first aisled hall church north of the Alps is St Bartholomew's Chapel () at
Paderborn
Paderborn (; Westphalian: ''Patterbuorn'', also ''Paterboärn'') is a city in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader and ''Born'', an old German term for t ...
, consecrated c.1017.
In western
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, there are some
Romanesque hall churches with parallel
barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault, wagon vault or wagonhead vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves, in the case of a pointed barrel vault) along a given distance. The curves are ...
s.
Poitiers Cathedral
, native_name_lang = French
, image = File:Poitiers Cathédrale Saint-Pierre AL1.jpg
, image_size =
, alt =
, caption = Cathedral of St Peter in Poitiers
, pushpin map ...
is considered to be the first
Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
hall church, and was probably an example for the Gothic hall churches of
Westphalia
Westphalia (; german: Westfalen ; nds, Westfalen ) is a region of northwestern Germany and one of the three historic parts of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has an area of and 7.9 million inhabitants.
The territory of the regio ...
. Most familiar was the construction of aisled hall churches in the late
Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
period, most notably in the areas of
Westphalia
Westphalia (; german: Westfalen ; nds, Westfalen ) is a region of northwestern Germany and one of the three historic parts of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has an area of and 7.9 million inhabitants.
The territory of the regio ...
and upper
Saxony
Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
.
Melle_Saint-Hilaire_intérieur.JPG, St-Hilaire ">r Melle
Melle may refer to:
People
* Basil Melle (1891–1966), South African cricketer
* Gil Mellé (1931–2004), American artist, jazz musician and film composer
* John van Melle (1887–1953), Dutch-born South African author
* Melle Mel (born 19 ...
, Romanesque barrel vaults
Münster_-_Lambertikirche_-_Decke.JPG, St Lambert's Church, Münster
File:Munich Frauenkirche (HDR) (8419330818).jpg, Frauenkirche, Munich
, native_name =
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, image = Frauenkirche Munich - View from Peterskirche Tower2.jpg
, pushpin map =
, pushpin label position =
, pushpin map alt =
, pushpin mapsize ...
, a hall of three naves with lateral extensions
Schneeberg St. Wolfgangskirche inside 2 (aka).jpg, St. Wolfgang's Church, Schneeberg
St. Wolfgang's Church (german: St.-Wolfgangs-Kirche) in Schneeberg (Ore Mountains), Schneeberg is one of the largest hall churches of the Gothic architecture, Late Gothic in Saxon region of Germany. It was built in the early 16th century on parts o ...
Toulouse-NefJacobins.jpg, Church of the Jacobins, Toulouse, a twin-naved hall church
PM 100742 E Cadiz.jpg, Church of the Holy Cross (Cádiz)
The Church of the Holy Cross ( es, Iglesia de la Santa Cruz) is a Roman Catholic church in the Spanish city of Cádiz. It was the cathedral of the Diocese of Cádiz y Ceuta between 1602 and 1838, when the new Cádiz Cathedral was completed.
Or ...
, the southernmost hall church in continental Europe
Lisbon_Portugal_518_Jerónimos_Monastery_(5108808064).jpg, Jerónimos Monastery
The Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery ( pt, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, ) is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém, in the Lisbon Municipality, Portugal. It became the necropolis o ...
, Belém (Lisbon), in the Manueline
The Manueline ( pt, estilo manuelino, ), occasionally known as Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese architectural style originating in the 16th century, during the Portuguese Renaissance and Age of Discoveries. Manuel ...
style
Usedom_St._Marienkirche_2013-08_innen(3).JPG, St Mary's ">e Usedom
Usedom (german: Usedom , pl, Uznam ) is a Baltic Sea island in Pomerania, divided between Germany and Poland. It is the second largest Pomeranian island after Rügen, and the most populous island in the Baltic Sea.
It is north of the Szczecin ...
, with wooden arches and a wooden ceiling
In the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
and
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
, most hall churches have no stone vaults under one longitudinal roof, as is typical in Germany, but wooden
barrel vaults
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault, wagon vault or wagonhead vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves, in the case of a pointed barrel vault) along a given distance. The curves are ...
with separate longitudinal roofs over each nave or aisle.
In England, there are more than a thousand aisled hall churches with wooden barrel or
waggon roof
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault, wagon vault or wagonhead vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves, in the case of a pointed barrel vault) along a given distance. The curves are ...
s, as well as other kinds of ceilings (see
Commons:Hall churches in England by county), though official descriptions do not use the term ''hall church''. In German literature on English medieval architecture, they are mentioned as a frequent type peripherally.
[Johann Josef Böker, ''Englische Sakralarchitektur des Mittelalters'', published by Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1984, ISBN 3-534-09524-1, pp. 170 and 228–229.]
In Devon, more than 200 churches (or a part of a church) are such aisled halls, forming the majority of all church buildings, there. In parts of Wales, two-vessel halls are a traditional type of churches, as mentioned using terms like "typical two naves" in descriptions by
Cadw. In Scotland, some aisled hall churches are Neoclassical buildings, and some aisled Gothic Revival hall churches have been built there transferring medieval English forms.
Temple Church, Inner Temple, London EC4 - geograph.org.uk - 88465.jpg, Temple Church
The Temple Church is a Royal peculiar church in the City of London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. It was consecrated on 10 February 1185 by Patriarch Heraclius of J ...
, London
Temple Church, Temple, London EC4 - Interior - geograph.org.uk - 1223104.jpg, Temple Church
The Temple Church is a Royal peculiar church in the City of London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. It was consecrated on 10 February 1185 by Patriarch Heraclius of J ...
, aisled hall 1240
Overzicht van de zuidoostgevel - Monnickendam - 20383252 - RCE.jpg, St Nicholas, Monnickendam
Monnickendam () is a city in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Waterland, and lies on the coast of the Markermeer, about southeast of Purmerend. It received city rights in 1355 and was damaged by the fir ...
, NL
Monnickendam - Sint-Nicolaaskerk - interieur v2.jpg, St Nicholas, Monnickendam
Monnickendam () is a city in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Waterland, and lies on the coast of the Markermeer, about southeast of Purmerend. It received city rights in 1355 and was damaged by the fir ...
, North Holland
North Holland ( nl, Noord-Holland, ) is a province of the Netherlands in the northwestern part of the country. It is located on the North Sea, north of South Holland and Utrecht, and west of Friesland and Flevoland. In November 2019, it had a ...
, aisles C16
St Andrew's Church from the east - geograph.org.uk - 2338900.jpg, St Andrew's, East Allington
East Allington is a village and civil parish in the South Hams district of Devon, England, south of Halwell and just off the A381 road. It lies about from Kingsbridge and about from Totnes. The coast at Slapton Sands is about to the south ...
, Devon
Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
St Andrew, East Allington - East end - geograph.org.uk - 1724609.jpg, St Andrew's, East Allington, aisles C14 and C16
Fort George chapel.JPG, Fort George, Highland Council Area
Highland ( gd, A' Ghàidhealtachd, ; sco, Hieland) is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in the United Kingdom. It was the 7th most populous council area in Scotland at the 2011 census. It share ...
, Chapel 1716
FORT GEORGE ANDERSIER C16th CHAPEL.JPG, Fort George Chapel, flat ceilings at almost equal levels
There are also English hall churches vaulted with stone, such as
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a Royal peculiar church in the City of London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. It was consecrated on 10 February 1185 by Patriarch Heraclius of J ...
in London, the choir of
Bristol Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England. Founded in 1140 and consecrated in 1148, it was originally St Augustine's Abbey but after the Dissolu ...
and the Lady Chapel of
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England. The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Salisbury and is the seat of the Bishop of Salisbury.
The buildi ...
.
Some
Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...
churches apply the hall church model, particularly those following German architectural precedents. One example of a neo-Gothic hall church is
St. Francis de Sales Church in
Saint Louis,
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
, designed by
Viktor Klutho
Viktor Klutho was an American architect of German descent, who designed a number of Catholic churches, schools, convents and rectories in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, and elsewhere.
Personal life
Born in Alsace-Lorraine, Klutho came to St. L ...
and completed in 1908.
A completely separate 20th-century usage employs the term ''hall church'' to mean a multi-purpose building with moveable seats rather than pews and a chancel area which can be screened off, to allow use as a community centre during the week. This was particularly popular in Britain in inner city areas from the 1960s onwards.
Principles and variations
Some typical forms of hall churches and how to distinguish them from basilicas:
Hall church central nave wider.png, Hall church. Instead of one longitudinal roof, it may have several roofs, either longitudinal or travers.
Stepped hall church.png, Stepped hall, the vaults of the central nave begin a bit higher than those of the lateral aisles, but it doesn't extend to an additional storey.
Pseudobasilica.png, Pseudo-basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
, the central nave extends to an additional storey, but it has no upper windows.
Basilica, cross-section scheme.png, Basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
, the central nave extends to two storeys above the lateral aisles, called gallery and clerestory.
Hall church horizontal & sloping.png, Hall church with arcades but no vaults and a partly horizontal, partly sloping ceiling
Various floorplans of hall churches:
Wiesenkirche-Grundriss-Ludorff.png, , utilizing the
Floor-plan_Parish_church_St._Martin_(Lauingen).jpg, , with three equal naves
ElizabethkircheMarburgDG453.jpg, St. Elizabeth's Church, Marburg, cruciform
Dehio 455 Berchtesgaden.png, , with two equal naves
See also
*
Church hall
A church hall or parish hall is a room or building associated with a church, generally for community and charitable use.
Further information
Lists of almost all hall churches of Europe are available on
French Wikipedia
The French Wikipedia (french: Wikipédia en français) is the French-language edition of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. This edition was started on 23 March 2001, two months after the official creation of Wikipedia. It has article ...
(incomplete for Germany) and
German Wikipedia
The German Wikipedia (german: Deutschsprachige Wikipedia) is the German-language edition of Wikipedia, a free and publicly editable online encyclopedia.
Founded on March 16, 2001, it is the second-oldest Wikipedia (after the English Wikipedia), ...
. The listed churches are identical with the national lists in
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
* Czech, ...
,
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
(for the Netherlands and Belgium),
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
,
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
Wikipedias.
References
{{Authority control
Church architecture
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