Buildings of Worship

Alberta is a pluralistic society where those from around the world have arrived and incorporated aspects of their culture and religion into their buildings. This has given Alberta a rich architectural legacy in buildings of worship throughout the province.

Buildings such as Catholic churches, synagogues, Eastern Orthodox churches, mosques, and Hindu temples exemplify the diversity of the people who came to Alberta from other countries. Many of these buildings of worship are adapted to and influenced by the North American environment and traditions.

Hindu Temples

The Hindu Society of Calgary temple and the ISKCON Edmonton temple are examples of architecture originating in India. Both of these buildings have pilasters, which are the upright square support beams common in buildings from India. These upright beams are attached to the outside of the building and act to support the roof. The temples are square, representing eternity in Hinduism.

The Hindu Society of Calgary building also has two tower constructions on the roof. These structures are built over the rooms where the image of a deity is placed in a shrine.

Eastern Orthodox Churches

The most striking Ukrainian architecture in Alberta is found in the Eastern Orthodox churches. The church was seen as an arch or ship in the world that protected those in it and brought them safely to their destinations. The Orthodox church floor plan was built in either a rectangular or cross shape.

Another common aspect of these churches is the onion-shaped dome placed over the holiest part of the church.

Alberta Synagogues

The original design of the tabernacle has been used for over two thousand years as a visual outline for Orthodox synagogues. The general rules for synagogue construction state that there can be decorations on the buildings but there cannot be any representations of the human form. The windows in the synagogue are rounded on the top and square on the bottom, which is symbolic of Lukhot or the Tablets of the Law received by Moses from God at Mount Sinai. Often twelve windows are placed along the main wall to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Many of these elements are voluntary, and the guidelines can be changed in various locations.

Christian Churches

There are many characteristics of Christian churches, and a large variety of them can seen in the churches of Alberta. Churches can be built in the shape of a cross, in a circle shape that represents eternity, or in an octagon or star shape to show the church bringing light to the world. Many churches are rectangular. A common Christian feature is a tall tower or spire built either on the west side of the church or above the crossing of the building. A high vault shape is often an important feature of the interior of the church to draw attention to the heavens.

Alberta Mosques

Mosques are Islamic places of worship, but they are not the only places of prayer.

Traditionally, mosques have a number of features. Some mosques have a minaret, which is a tall narrow tower placed on at least one corner of the building. The minaret is used to call Muslims to prayer, but as this function is not used in some communities, some mosques do not have it as a notable feature. The top of the minaret is the highest part of the mosque. There is a dome above the main prayer hall that was once a high vault, representing the heavens above. These domes are often smaller in contemporary mosques, and some have more than one dome. Mosques have ablution fountains to allow those entering to wash. In smaller mosques, worshipers may have to use washroom facilities for this purpose. The main prayer hall of the mosque has no furniture so many can enter and use the facilities at the same time. There are no statues or images in the prayer hall, as worshipers focus entirely on Allah.

The video "Mosques in Alberta" tells about the arrival of the Muslim people in Alberta and the mosques they built. Click here to watch.

The buildings of worship are clearly a part of the landscape in Alberta, identifying the multicultural aspect of our society. There are places like Lamont County that has a rich array of churches, making it the Church Capital of North America.