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
* Chri ...
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-typ ...
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, pa ...
s of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was invented in the mid-19th century by
Wilhelm Lübke
Wilhelm Lübke (17 January 1826 – 5 April 1893) was a German art historian, born in Dortmund.
He studied at Bonn and Berlin; was a professor of architecture at the Berlin Bauakademie (1857–61) and a professor of art history at the Polytech ...
, a pioneering German art historian. In contrast to an
architectural basilica, 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 ...
("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 German, 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 ...
.
Melle_Saint-Hilaire_intérieur.JPG, St-Hilaire ">r Melle, Romanesque barrel vaults
Münster_-_Lambertikirche_-_Decke.JPG, St Lambert's Church, Münster
St Lambert's Church (German: ''St. Lamberti'') is a Roman Catholic church building in Münster ( Westphalia) in Germany, dedicated to Lambert of Maastricht. Its present building is the most significant example of Westphalian late Gothic archi ...
File:Munich Frauenkirche (HDR) (8419330818).jpg, Frauenkirche, Munich, a hall of three naves with lateral extensions
Schneeberg St. Wolfgangskirche inside 2 (aka).jpg, St. Wolfgang's Church, Schneeberg
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.
O ...
, the southernmost hall church in continental Europe
Lisbon_Portugal_518_Jerónimos_Monastery_(5108808064).jpg, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém (Lisbon)
Belém () is a '' freguesia'' (civil parish) and district of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Belém is located in western Lisbon, to the west of Ajuda and Alcântara and directly east of Lisbon's border with Oeiras. Belém is famous as a mus ...
, in the Manueline 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 Szczeci ...
, 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 cultu ...
, most hall churches have no stone vaults under one longitudinal roof, as is typical in Germany, but wooden
barrel vaults 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
(, a Welsh verbal noun meaning "keeping/preserving") is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage ...
. 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, NL
Monnickendam - Sint-Nicolaaskerk - interieur v2.jpg, St Nicholas, Monnickendam, 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. Devo ...
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 shar ...
, 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 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 buil ...
.
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 state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...
, designed by
Viktor Klutho 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 nam ...
, 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 nam ...
, 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
St. Elizabeth's Church in Marburg, Germany, was built by the Order of the Teutonic Knights in honour of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Her tomb made the church an important pilgrimage destination during the late Middle Ages.
Architecture
The ch ...
, 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 articl ...
(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 Wikipedi ...
. The listed churches are identical with the national lists in
Czech,
Dutch (for the Netherlands and Belgium),
Polish,
Portuguese and
Spanish Wikipedias.
References
{{Authority control
Church architecture
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