These three words all refer to places of worship, but they have different meanings and are used in different religious contexts.
Church
A church is a building where Christians gather to worship. It can be small or large and may belong to any Christian denomination (e.g., Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox).
- Meaning: A place for Christian worship.
- Usage: Used for any Christian worship building, regardless of size or importance.
- Example: We go to church every Sunday.
Choose the correct word: The small ___ in our village holds a service every Saturday evening.
church
A small place for Christian worship in a village is called a 'church'.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a specific type of church that is the principal church within a diocese. It is usually large and grand and is where a bishop has his official seat (called a cathedra).
- Meaning: The main church in a diocese, where a bishop’s seat is located.
- Usage: Always a Christian church, typically belonging to Catholic, Anglican, or Orthodox traditions. It has an important administrative role.
- Example: Notre-Dame is a famous cathedral in Paris.
Temple
A temple is a place of worship found in various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Judaism. The word “temple” is not commonly used for Christian worship buildings (except in some specific contexts, like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
- Meaning: A place of worship in several religions other than mainstream Christianity.
- Usage: Used primarily outside of Christianity. In English, it can refer to Hindu temples, Buddhist temples, ancient temples, or temples in other traditions.
- Example: We visited a temple in Kyoto.
Summary
- Church = Any Christian worship building.
- Cathedral = A large, important church with a bishop’s seat.
- Temple = A place of worship in various other religions (and some specific Christian contexts).
These distinctions help you choose the correct word depending on the religious and architectural context.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
