What is so vital about church acoustics?

Church acoustics reflect what a congregation believes are vital sounds. Church acoustics also unveil what church leaders think that people should hear. This is one reason Protestant Reformers changed their church buildings; they wanted to hear different sounds, such as a sermon. And these days, a church that uses a modern worship style will design a different space than a church that uses only acoustic equipments.

Medieval church buildings

Tall ceilings and stone walls create an echo space that is somewhat like being within the sound box of an instrument. The congregation can sink into an environmental cushion of sound, but they can’t hear crispy enunciated words or distinguish polyphonic musical lines. 

Changing ideals in the protestant reformation

Changing theological ideals changed the soundscape in Reformation era protestant churches. The congregation was meant to hear and realize the spoken words of the church leaders and the acoustics should work just like Municipal center acoustics.  

New buildings with clear acoustic intentions

In the North American colonies, the congregation’s intentions shaped their building from the very beginning. The top priority was emphasized direction of sound from the pulpit to the congregation so that sermons will be audible. Resonant congregational singing was a secondary priority and you can install PET panels for that.    

Electronic amplification also enabled for the visibility of the leaders to become more vital as people could sit far away from a speaker and still hear him or her. Before, protestant buildings generally prioritized audibility over visibility, so congregants sometimes had seats where they can hear a preacher but not see him or her. 

Church buildings still utilize electronic amplification and sound absorption. Pew cushions, carpet, and acoustic tiles from an acoustic panel supplier absorb sound, while increasingly high tech sound systems project speakers’ voices to the congregation.

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