A tabernacle church is, in its simplest terms, a house of worship, a gathering place where people worship God. The term “tabernacle” has roots in both Judaism and Christianity and is also used to describe an ornamental locked box used to hold communion hosts.
Therefore, in Christian traditions, a tabernacle church is best described as a house of worship that practices Holy Communion, while the tabernacle is the special box that houses the Eucharist. Tabernacles are found in Catholic churches, along with many Lutheran and Orthodox churches.
The Hebrew word for “tabernacle” is mishkan, which means dwelling place. This term has long been used in Christianity because Christ is said to dwell in the Eucharist, although the Israelites first used it to describe the temporary shelter they constructed to worship in as they made their long journey from Egypt to Mt. Sanai.