| |
1859 ~ Martin Luther Lutheran Church ~ 2009
150th Anniversary
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
I Corinthians 12:12
The Narthex ~
Since Martin Luther Lutheran Church has the basic structure of a cross, it may be called a cathedral. Entering from the front door into the narthex, the view of the altar is unobstructed.
The Nave ~
The plan was given the form of a cross, the nave and chancel are the upright and the transepts are the arms. The nave, Latin for ship, with its central aisle, leads to the chancel and focuses the attention upon the altar. The central aisle is 99 feet long. In church architecture, the chancel is symbolic of the head of Christ and the nave, His body. The vine in the cornice of the nave is the symbol of our Savior and is based upon John 15:1 ~ “I am the True Vine”. Over the front door the vine is used again, and also the shield of the Holy Trinity.
The Pews ~
Each pew has a carved symbol in the wooden panel telling its own story. Where three petals are carved in the form of a fleur de lis or lily, recalls our belief in the Triune God or our acceptance of the virgin birth of our Savior. Where four main divisions are shown, we think of the four major prophets, four gospel writers and Jesus’ command to carry the message of love to the “four corners of the earth”. Where six divisions are noted, we are urged to increase our knowledge through a greater understanding of the recorded Word. Six is significant of the six days of creation, of the six hours Jesus spent on the cross and of the six attributes of God, namely: power, majesty, wisdom, love, mercy and justice.
The Rood Beam ~
This part of the architecture of the church is often overlooked. It is important to us as well as the engineer. When standing below the steps of the chancel and looking heavenward, we can see in the timber structure what appears to be an H with the vertical line curving away from linker. In this, we have the monogram of the first three letters of Jesus’ name, the Greek being ihc. This is the architect’s way of saying Jesus is the center of worship, for He is the Rood Beam of this edifice.
(rood – Archaic. The cross on which Christ died. Webster’s College Dictionary)
Next Month ~ The Baptistry and The Chancel
|
