Does your story involve major characters visiting a church? Do you want this church to be a stunning piece of architecture? In this post, we’ve included 10 words to describe a beautiful church you can use in your book.
1. Serene
Definition
Somewhere peaceful, calm, and without stress.
Examples
“The serene church was an oasis of calm for all who entered.”
“As he looked around, he was stunned by the lack of fuss in the serene church.”
How it Adds Description
The word “serene” provides a sense of calm to any literary setting. This adjective helps to convey the atmosphere of your church, allowing the reader to understand your novel’s world better. It can also reflect the character’s viewpoint, as different personalities find different places relaxing.
2. Heavenly
Definition
Someone or somewhere connected to the religious idea of heaven.
Examples
“There was nowhere more heavenly than the grand church on the hill.”
“While he prayed inside the heavenly church, the group reconvened outside to have a matter of fact talk.”
How it Adds Description
If your literary church is in your novel to add a religious element to the plot, the adjective “heavenly” provides obvious connotations to the Christian religion. However, it also implies that the characters feel the church is a positive place, as “heavenly” is used to describe positive or holy places.
3. Magnificent
Definition
Something or somewhere that’s extremely impressive or good.
Examples
“The magnificent church towered above him, yet he did not feel scared.”
“The inside of the church was simply magnificent, she’d never seen such beauty in her life before.”
How it Adds Description
The word “magnificent” describes places or people who are impressive, beautiful, or good. If you want to emphasize how attractive or decorated your church is, “magnificent” is a powerful adjective to use as all readers will understand its meaning. The term also positions your church as better than others, as it’s rare for all buildings to be “magnificent”.
4. Captivating
Definition
A place that attracts or fascinates people.
Examples
“She couldn’t stroll past the captivating church without stealing a few glances, to ignore it was impossible.”
“The captivating church was a prized possession for the townsfolk, they’d never allow it to be demolished.”
How it Adds Description
If your church is so beautiful that it distracts your characters, “captivating” is a fitting world to use. This adjective describes a magnetism that attracts your characters to the church’s beauty, emphasizing its architecture and decor. It can also foreshadow a future church-related plot point if one character is more “captivated” by the church than others.
5. Sublime
Definition
Somewhere that is wonderful, high-quality, or affects visitors deeply.
Examples
“She chose to rest in the sublime church, it was the only place she truly felt at ease.”
“The sublime church was a must-visit stop on all of the tourism brochures, and he could now see why.”
How it Adds Description
The word “sublime” conveys a church’s beauty through the effect it has on its visitors. If your church is “sublime”, it’s an attractive and positive place where people feel comfortable. This is a great word to use if the church is a focal point in your novel, “sublime” will draw the reader’s attention to how it makes your narrator feel.
6. Pristine
Definition
Somewhere that’s extremely new, clean, or in a high-quality condition.
Examples
“He gazed around the pristine church, not a single thing was out of place.”
“There was never a place more orderly than the pristine church.”
How it Adds Description
The word “pristine” signified cleanliness and order, allowing you to give your reader deeper insights into your setting. “Pristine” can also imply that your character is impressed by the beautiful church, showing the reader they appreciate organized spaces.
7. Flawless
Definition
Something or somewhere with no problems or blemishes.
Examples
“As they walked into the flawless church, they realized it was a place of true beauty.”
“The flawless church was the best in the region, no one could deny that.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to exaggerate or convey your church’s beauty, the term “flawless” is appropriate to use. This word implies the church is without imperfections, and therefore perfect. “Flawless” can also show your narrator’s awe at the beauty, and thus your readers will understand their motivations better.
8. Dazzling
Definition
A place that’s beautiful or impressive.
Examples
“The dazzling church could be seen from miles away, and he couldn’t ignore its presence.”
“She wished to visit the dazzling church, if only just once.”
How it Adds Description
The word “dazzling” has connotations of conventional beauty, and using this adjective will convey your church’s attractive facade to your reader. “Dazzling” can also help to convey that the church is a positive place, as your characters might be impressed or in awe of the building’s beauty. You can also use this word to create a detailed setting, perfect for writers who enjoy providing in-depth scene descriptions.
9. Opulent
Definition
A place that looks expensive or grand.
Examples
“It was an opulent church, there’s no doubt it has been redecorated recently.”
“She skipped through the opulent church, and as she traveled she admired the excess of decor and stained glass windows.”
How it Adds Description
The word “opulent” is linked with excessive decor and rich styles. Therefore, if your beautiful church is highly decorated, “opulent” will signify this to your reader. This adjective could also convey that a lot of time and money has gone into building the church, and this could foreshadow future plot points to your reader.
10. Alluring
Definition
Somewhere or somebody that’s very attractive.
Examples
“The alluring church continued to interest him, but he could not work out why.”
“It seemed like the alluring church had a life of its own, drawing civilians in with its statuesque beauty and strong morals.”
How it Adds Description
The word “alluring” describes beauty that attracts people to it. If your church is highly beautiful and attracts characters to it, “alluring” is an adjective that can emphasize this connection. It can also help to further the plot, hinting to the reader that characters have a secret obsession with the church and making the reader want to find out why.