- [countable]
a building where Christians go to attend services, pray, etc. （基督教的）教堂，禮拜堂 The procession moved into the church. 人們排着隊走進教堂。 England has some beautiful parish churches. 英格蘭有一些美麗的教區教堂。 a church tower/spire 教堂塔樓/尖頂 church services 教堂禮拜儀式
Culture churches and cathedralschurches and cathedralsIn Britain churches are found in almost every town and village. Their tower or spire (= a tall pointed structure) can often be seen from far away. Churches are used for worship by the Church of England, Roman Catholics and other groups, while some Nonconformist Churches use chapels or halls. The church and church hall, a building used for meetings and Sunday School, used to be the centre of the community. Now, far fewer people attend church and this has resulted in some churches being closed or used for other purposes such as housing.Cathedrals may belong to either the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church. Many cathedrals were built as part of a monastery, for example Durham was started in the 11th century by Benedictine monks. Some of these cathedrals are called minsters, for example York Minster, and they were originally centres for teaching Christianity. St Chad's in Birmingham dates from the middle of the 19th century and was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in England since the Reformation. A cathedral is the headquarters of a bishop or archbishop. Canterbury Cathedral is the headquarters of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is head of the Church of England.Many people visit churches and cathedrals to admire their architecture. In Britain churches are usually built of stone, with a tower or spire at the west end. Bells are placed high up in the tower and rung by long ropes before services. In villages the church is approached through a gate, sometimes a lychgate (= a gate with a roof over it), which leads into the churchyard where people are buried. The main entrance is usually on the south side. The church porch usually has a noticeboard and often a seat in it. Cathedrals are large churches, usually built in the shape of a long cross with a central tower. Older cathedrals are often in a quiet cathedral close.The earliest stone churches date from the Anglo-Saxon period (6th-11th centuries). Norman churches, from the 11th and 12th centuries, are massive structures. Rounded arches over doors and windows are a feature of Norman architecture. Examples of Norman cathedrals are those at Durham and Ely.The English Gothic style of the 13th-15th centuries often features pointed arches and increasingly complex designs. Windows were tall and narrow in the Early English period (13th century), and in the 14th century had tracery (= lace-like patterns) at the top. In the 15th century windows became much larger and filled with stained glass (= small pieces of coloured glass in a lead frame) showing pictures of saints. Ceilings with complicated fan vaults (= curved lines of stone spreading out from a point, with patterns between them) are supported by flying buttresses that lean at an angle from the wall and form an arch. Salisbury Cathedral is a typical Early English building. Exeter Cathedral dates mainly from the 14th century and Gloucester Cathedral has impressive fan vaults.Some later buildings, such as St Paul's Cathedral designed by Christopher Wren, are more like classical temples, with a central dome and spire added. Wren and James Gibbs, designer of St Martin-in-the-Fields, influenced architects in America: Christ Church in Philadelphia is a copy of St Martin. But the modern Coventry Cathedral, designed by Basil Spence in the 1950s, is a hall-like church with narrow stained-glass windows.In the US the earliest churches were one-room buildings made of wood that were used also as schools. Most communities now have several churches in varying styles. Some are made of stone in order to look like old English churches, some are small, plain buildings made of brick or wood, and others are modern buildings with glass walls. Storefront churches are found in shopping streets and look like shops.Extra ExamplesTopics Religion and festivalsa2, Buildingsa2She was actively involved in church groups. 她積極參與教會團體活動。 The church is dedicated to St Paul. 這座教堂是奉獻給聖保羅的。 St Paul's Church 聖保羅教堂 The church was consecrated in 1250. 這座教堂於 1250 年祝聖。 There's an interesting organ in the church. 教堂裏有一架引人注目的管風琴。 a chamber concert at our local church 在本區教堂舉行的室内樂音樂會 a church youth group 一個青年教會團體 They took photos of the bride and groom outside the church. 他們在教堂外給新娘和新郎拍照。 The service will be held at the parish church on December 16. 儀式將於12月16日在教區教堂舉行。 church bells 教堂的鐘 She sings in the church choir. 她在教堂唱詩班唱歌。 We are hiring the church hall for the party. 我們正在爲聚會租用教堂大廳。 The service is open to all church members. 儀式對所有教會成員開放。 The church was built in the 15th century. 這座教堂建於15世紀。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- local
- parish
- village
- …
- build
- consecrate
- found
- …
- building
- bells
- clock
- …
- at a/the church
- in a/the church
- [uncountable]
a service or services in a church 禮拜；禮拜儀式 How often do you go to church? 你多久去教堂做一次禮拜？ - at church (British English)
They're at church (= attending a church service). 他們在做禮拜。 - in church (North American English)
They're in church. 他們在做禮拜。 - (British and North American English)
Lots of people still get married in church. 許多人仍然在教堂結婚。 Church is at 9 o'clock. 禮拜儀式 9 點鐘開始。
Collocations ReligionReligion 宗教 Being religious 笃信宗教的 - believe in God/Christ/Allah/free will/predestination/heaven and hell/an afterlife/reincarnation
信仰上帝／耶稣基督／真主／自由意志／宿命論／天堂與地獄／來生／轉世說 - be/become a believer/an atheist/an agnostic/a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist, etc.
是／成爲信徒／無神論者／不可知論者／基督徒／穆斯林／印度教教徒／佛教徒等 - convert to/practise a religion/Buddhism/Catholicism/Christianity/Islam/Judaism, etc.
- go to church/(North American English) temple (= the synagogue)
去教堂／會堂做禮拜 - go to the local church/mosque/synagogue/gurdwara
去當地的教堂／清真寺／猶太教會堂／谒師所做禮拜 - belong to a church/a religious community
是教堂／宗教團體的成員 - join/enter the church/a convent/a monastery/a religious sect/the clergy/the priesthood
成爲牧師／女修道士／僧侶／宗教人員／神職人員／司祭 - praise/worship/obey/serve/glorify God
贊美／敬拜／遵從／侍奉／頌揚上帝
Celebrations and ritual 慶典與儀式 - attend/hold/conduct/lead a service
參加／舉行／組織／主持禮拜儀式 - perform a ceremony/a rite/a ritual/a baptism/the Hajj/a mitzvah
舉行典禮／儀式／宗教儀式／洗禮／朝觐／受戒儀式 - carry out/perform a sacred/burial/funeral/fertility/purification rite
舉行宗教／安葬／葬禮／豐收／淨化儀式 - go on/make a pilgrimage
前往朝聖 - celebrate Christmas/Easter/Eid/Ramadan/Hanukkah/Passover/Diwali
慶祝聖誕節／複活節／開齋節／齋月／修殿節／逾越節／排燈節 - observe/break the Sabbath/a fast/Ramadan
守／不守安息日／齋戒／齋月 - deliver/preach/hear a sermon
傳道；講道；聽布道 - lead/address the congregation
帶領會衆；對會衆發表演講 - say/recite a prayer/blessing
念誦／背誦經文；祝禱
Religious texts and ideas 宗教經文與思想 - preach/proclaim/spread the word of God/the Gospel/the message of Islam
傳布／頌揚／傳播上帝的話／《福音》／伊斯蘭教義 - study/follow the dharma/the teachings of Buddha
研究／遵循達摩／佛教教義 - read/study/understand/interpret scripture/the Bible/the Koran/the gospel/the Torah
閱讀／研究／理解／闡釋經文／《聖經》／《古蘭經》／《福音》／托拉 - be based on/derive from divine revelation
基於／來源於上帝的啓示 - commit/consider something heresy/sacrilege
犯異端／渎聖罪；認爲…是異端邪說／亵渎聖物
Religious belief and experience 宗教信仰與體驗 - seek/find/gain enlightenment/wisdom
尋求／找到／獲得啓迪／智慧 - strengthen/lose your faith
增強／失去信德 - keep/practise/practice/abandon the faith
忠於／踐行／放棄信仰 - save/purify/lose your soul
拯救／淨化／失去靈魂 - obey/follow/keep/break/violate a commandment/Islamic law/Jewish law
服從／遵循／恪守／違反／亵渎誡條／伊斯蘭教法／猶太教法 - be/accept/do God’s will
是／接受／踐行上帝的旨意 - receive/experience divine grace
得到／感受神的恩寵 - achieve/attain enlightenment/salvation/nirvana
獲得啓迪／拯救／涅槃 - undergo a conversion/rebirth/reincarnation
經歷皈依／重生／轉世化身 - hear/answer a prayer
聆聽／回應禱告 - commit/confess/forgive a sin
犯罪；懺悔；寬恕罪過 - do/perform penance
進行補贖
Grammar Point schoolschool 學校 - When a school is being referred to as an institution, you do not need to use the:
school 指機構時，不需用定冠詞 the： When do the children finish school? 孩子們什麽時候畢業？
指校舍時要用定冠詞 the： I’ll meet you outside the school. 我在學校外面等你。
prison、jail、court 和 church 的用法相同： Her husband spent three years in prison. 她丈夫坐了三年牢。
Extra ExamplesDo you go to church? 你去教堂做禮拜嗎？ Mrs Parsons wasn't at church this Sunday. 帕森斯夫人這個星期天沒有在教堂做禮拜。 We decided not to get married in church. 我們決定不在教堂舉行婚禮。 Church attendance is declining. 教堂的上座率正在下降。 She attended church regularly. 她定期去教堂。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + church- attend
- go to
- attendance
- service
- music
- …
- after church
- before church
- at church
- …
- Church[countable]
a particular group of Christians 基督教教派 the Anglican Church 聖公會 The Catholic church teaches that life begins at conception. 天主教會教導說生命始於受孕。 the Free Churches 自由教會 Linda joined the local Methodist church. 琳達加入了當地的衛理公會。
Extra Examplessee also denomination, episcopal, Free Church, High Church, Low Church, Lutheran, orthodox, Reformed Church, storefront church, Unification ChurchSmall evangelical churches provide their members with a strong sense of community and family. 小型福音教會爲其成員提供了強烈的社區和家庭意識。 the Church of England 英國國教會，英國聖公會 the Protestant Church 新教教會 Orthodox Christian churches 東正教教堂
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- low
- evangelical
- …
- establish
- found
- lead
- …
- teach
- authorities
- elder
- leader
- …
- a member of a church
- (the) Church[singular]
the ministers of the Christian religion; the institution of the Christian religion 基督教牧師；基督教機構 The Church has a duty to condemn violence. 基督教會有義務譴責暴力。 the conflict between Church and State 教會與政府的沖突 to go into the Church (= to become a Christian minister) 成爲基督教牧師
Extra ExamplesHe left the Church after a loss of faith. 失去信仰後，他脫離了基督教會。 He served the church for over sixty years. 他在教會服務了 60 餘年。 He went into the Church when he was 23. 他 23 歲時成爲基督教牧師。 The early Church believed miracles were proof of who Jesus was. 早期基督教會認爲神迹是耶稣身分的證明。 He loves all the high church traditions—incense and processions and vestments. 他喜歡所有高教會的傳統——香料、列隊前行、祭衣等。 He entered the Church and became chaplain to the Duke of York. 他進入教堂，成爲約克公爵的牧師。 They called for the separation of church and state. 他們呼籲政教分離。 She attacked the established church for its narrow views. 她抨擊已建立的教會的狹隘觀點。 Church leaders instructed families to set aside time to learn the gospel. 教會領袖指示家庭留出時間學習福音。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- low
- evangelical
- …
- establish
- found
- lead
- …
- teach
- authorities
- elder
- leader
- …
- a member of a church
Word OriginOld English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma) ‘Lord's (house)’, from kurios ‘master or lord’. Compare with kirk.
Idioms
a broad church
- (British English)
an organization that accepts a wide range of opinions 廣納衆議的機構 The party aims to be a broad church with members from all sections of society. 該黨的目標是成爲一個由社會各階層成員組成的廣泛的教會。