I Designed a Sanctuary—there Heaven Kisses the Earth

When we step into a church, we are stepping out of ordinary and into the sacred space. In the Catholic tradition, every curve, colour, and block in a chapel isn’t just there to look beautiful—it is there to teach us, to remind us, and to draw us into the mysteries of our faith.

I was asked to design the sanctuary of St. Bonaventure Seminary, Peravoor, encompassing the altar, the pulpit, the tabernacle, and the seating. Far from being just furniture, these pieces are a catechism in wood and stone. Let’s take a visual and spiritual journey through the sanctuary to understand the profound theology built into its very frame.

The Altar: The Foundation of the Apostles and the Descent of Grace

The altar is the beating heart of any Catholic church. Here, the design features a striking base made of twelve distinct blocks.

church design, sanctuary design, altar design, St. Bonaventure seminary, Peravoor.

The Twelve: These blocks represent the twelve tribes of Israel in the Old Covenant, fulfilled by the Twelve Apostles in the New Covenant. They remind us that our faith is apostolic; the Church is built upon the foundation of these twelve men who witnessed the Resurrection.

The Descent of the Divine: Look closely at the colouring of the altar. There is a distinct, sharp division where the warm, golden-brown upper tones reach down into the solid, grey base. This is a visual manifestation of the Incarnation and Pentecost. It represents the Divine from above stepping down into the earthly realm below. Every time the Eucharist is celebrated, heaven descends to earth, and God's grace is poured out upon the Apostles, the priests, and all the faithful.

The Pulpit: The Four Corners of the Word

The pulpit (or ambo) is the Table of the Word. Just as we are fed by the Eucharist at the altar, we are fed by Scripture here.

church design, sanctuary design, altar design, ambo design, St. Bonaventure seminary, Peravoor.

The Four Blocks: The structure rests upon four prominent blocks, representing the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They are the solid pillars upon which the story of our salvation rests.

The Living Creatures: The pulpit is adorned with the ancient emblems of the four evangelists—the Winged Man (Matthew), the Winged Lion (Mark), the Winged Ox (Luke), and the Eagle (John). Originating from the visions of Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation, these symbols remind us that the Word of God is living, active, and meant to be proclaimed to the four corners of the earth. The rotating top of the pulpit practically ensures that the Word can be directed and shared dynamically with the whole congregation.

The Tabernacle: The Multiplication of Grace

The tabernacle is the dwelling place of the Lord, where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

church design, sanctuary design, altar design, ambo design, tabernacle, St. Bonaventure seminary, Peravoor.

Loaves and Fishes: The design here relies on beautiful, abstract geometry. The interlocking golden rings symbolize the five loaves, while the two central shapes in the blue emblem represent the two fish.

The Endless Feast: This recalls the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. When humanity offered Christ the little they had—just five loaves and two fish—He multiplied it to feed a multitude, with baskets left over. The tabernacle stands as a permanent reminder of this miracle. Inside it rests the Eucharist, the true Bread of Life, miraculously multiplied across time and space to feed the spiritual hunger of the world today.

The Seating: Infused by the Divine

Even the seating for the celebrant and the altar servers participates in this theological story.

The priest's chair and the servers' benches carry the same two-toned, angled motif found on the altar—the golden/wood colors pointing downward into the grey. This design reminds the ministers of their purpose. The design physically surrounds them with the reminder that their earthly ministry is entirely dependent on the divine grace infusing them from above. They are earthen vessels carrying a heavenly treasure.

We are physical creatures, and God reaches us through physical realities. He did this ultimately by taking on human flesh, and He continues to do this through the Sacraments. This sanctuary design beautifully mirrors that reality. From the twelve apostolic blocks of the altar to the Gospel pillars of the pulpit, every element points to a singular, beautiful truth: God has not stayed far away. He has come down to meet us, to teach us, and to feed us.

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