Does it matter what your church looks like? Is a church building just a place in which to gather out of the elements, or is there some kind of significance in the way it’s put together? More importantly, does God care about any of this? 

In this 10-part video series entitled “Catholic Architecture,” Dr. Denis McNamara lays out the theological rationale for sacred architecture in the Catholic tradition. Each short, accessible episode focuses on one aspect of sacred architecture and how it supports the Catholic understanding of God, worship, and the Sacraments.

This week, we look at the first episode, “Architectural Theology,” where Dr. McNamara argues that material things can be used to communicate something of the mind of God and the nature of the Church. In this way, church architecture is not merely a matter of personal taste or what’s popular, but rather should present a foretaste of Heavenly realities.

Dr. McNamara McNamara holds a Bachelor of Arts in History of Art from Yale University, as well as a Masters and Doctorate in Architectural History from the University of Virginia. He is currently the Director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.