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Church (building)
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<p>A church, church building, church house, or <a href="/facts/Chapel/SreoramU">chapel</a> is a building used for <a href="/facts/Christian_worship/sKLwmUf3">Christian worship</a> <a href="/facts/Church_service/G3aYpe6T">services</a>, <a href="/facts/Christian_religion/nKyJHlqq">Christian religious</a> activities. The earliest identified Christian church is a <a href="/facts/House_church/QPGv5xX8">house church</a> founded between 233 <a href="/facts/AD/NmQwnQNj">AD</a> and 256 AD. </p><p>Sometimes, the word <i>church</i> is used erroneously to refer to the <a href="/facts/Place_of_worship/bXK4L8RC">buildings of other religions</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Mosques/U51uY78w">mosques</a> and <a href="/facts/Synagogues/yt6f6nJa">synagogues</a>. <i>Church</i> is also used to describe a <a href="/facts/Church_(congregation)/w6oI768t">body or an assembly of Christian believers</a>, while "the Church" may be used to refer to the worldwide Christian religious community as a whole. </p><p>In traditional <a href="/facts/Christian_architecture/3RI4oDJB">Christian architecture</a>, the <a href="/facts/Plan_view/xc9IENhM">plan view</a> of a church often forms a <a href="/facts/Christian_cross/Vo1lEvfP">Christian cross</a> with the centre <a href="/facts/Aisle/awQvhgHS">aisle</a> and seating representing the vertical beam and the <a href="/facts/Church_architecture/3RI4oDJB">bema</a> and <a href="/facts/Altar/x765TWyq">altar</a> forming the horizontal. <a href="/facts/Tower/3k5G8kJt">Towers</a> or <a href="/facts/Dome/vcv5uuXj">domes</a> may inspire contemplation of the <a href="/facts/Heaven/mRtkwbzz">heavens</a>. Modern churches have a variety of <a href="/facts/Architectural_style/l3lsePBu">architectural styles</a> and layouts. Some buildings designed for other purposes have been converted to churches, while many original church buildings have been put to other uses. From the 11th to the 14th century, there had been a wave of church construction in <a href="/facts/Western_Europe/YmWlV59w">Western Europe</a>. </p><p>Many churches worldwide are of considerable historical, national, cultural, and architectural significance, with several included in the list of <a href="/facts/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_by_religion/677DEsQ7">UNESCO World Heritage Sites</a>. </p>