The Greening of God's House Let nature sing in your sanctuary by Katherine B. Crosett F lowers Given to the Glory of God. This announcement appears in weekly church bulletins throughout the world. It refers, of course, to altar flowers, which create a beautiful accent for a worship service.
Churches also place various plants in narthexes, offices, and fellowship rooms to welcome people.
Or they set flowing palms on either side of the pulpit to serve as a silent tribute to God's natural world. Bringing plants and flowers from church gardens into the sanctuary is a long-established tradition in European churches, notes Geoff Stickland from St. James Episcopal Church in Gloucestershire, England. In years past, rural churches often had large gardens, but after urbanization the practice of using plants and flowers inside sanctuaries faded away. In recent decades, interest in church gardens has resurfaced, and many congregations are now enjoying the beauty of live plants and flowers throughout the church complex. An Easy Start You don't have to be a horticulturist or spend a fortune on a botanical program to beautify your church with greens and flowers.