How to Make a Large Worship Space Smaller

A large worship space can be partitioned to form a small chapel.

Perception of the size of a worship space can affect how comfortable worshippers are in that space. A congregation may be large enough to need a space to seat 1000; however, there may also be a need for smaller worship spaces within that congregation as programming attends to the needs of smaller, specific groups within the congregation. A large worship space can be made smaller for the comfort of these specific groups.

Things You'll Need

• Partition walls with niches
• Votive candles and holders
• Candle lighter
• Religious decorations
• Wall hooks
• Piano or portable keyboard
• Musician seating
• Music stands
• Banner material
• Poster paint
• Paintbrushes
• Carpet squares
• Large and small floor pillows
• Folding chairs
• Throws

Instructions

1. Roll partition walls into place. Place votive candles into their holders. Light the candles with a candle lighter, and place them into niches in the partition walls. Place religious decorations such as icons, tiles or pictures on the walls' hooks.

2. Move a piano within the partition walls to further define the space. If your congregation does not own a piano, set up a musician's area with seating and music stands where a keyboardist and other musicians who are important to the worship process can play and sing.

3. Make banners with banner material and poster paint to announce each special function. For example, you can make banners for a children's service, a folk mass, a teen worship meeting or a graduation mass. Hang the banners from the front row of seats or wherever arriving worshippers will see them.

4. Create a casual space by throwing down carpet squares and large floor pillows for worshippers to seat themselves on in the worship area. Casually place comfortable folding chairs in the worship space for those who do not want to sit on the floor. Scatter small pillows in the pews if your space has formal pew seating.

5. Pass out throws during the chillier months to keep worshippers warm in the smaller worship space. These throws can be stored in a side room when not in use, or people can bring their own quilts and blankets to share to make the space feel smaller and cozier.

References

• Georgetown University: Envision Church: Mega, Middle or Mini: What Size Best Fits Your Parish; Carol Frenning; 2007
• Georgetown University: Envision Church: Mitigating Problems in Large Worship Spaces; Robert Kropac; 2009