Why
are the doors of most Episcopal churches painted red?
Turns
out, there is no definitive answer, and the question has been posed
many times. The tradition is centuries old and has several meanings
associated with it. No matter the meaning, many older Protestant
churches have distinctive red doors, and when you’re visiting a new
city, like Gatlinburg, you can readily identify the Episcopal Church
because it’s the one with the red doors.
The
tradition of red doors originated in England during the Middle Ages
when it was a sign of sanctuary. If you were being pursued by
someone, you would be safe if you could reach the church door. No
one would dare commit violence on holy ground; furthermore, the
Church didn’t have to abide by civil law. Pursuers could proceed
no further, and victims knew that the red doors meant sanctuary,
refuge, and safety. The person who claimed sanctuary like this could
state his case to the priest and ask for justice to be served. The
red doors also represented protection from spiritual evil as well. In
the beginnings of cathedral architecture, red stood for the Blood of
Christ, and it was painted on the north, south, and east doors of a
church. In other words, they were making “the sign of the cross”
which ultimately marked the church as a safety zone from spiritual
dangers in addition to protection from physical harm.
Other
meanings for red doors through the ages include red being a reminder
of the Passover and God’s covenant with the Israelites. Red is also
a symbol for the sacrificial blood of Christ, our entry into
salvation. It is also indicative of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Wittenberg Cathedral is believed to have had red doors, the church
where Martin Luther posted his 95 theses, so red may symbolize a
church of the Reformation. Other stories go that if church doors were
painted red, it meant their mortgage was paid off.
Today
many Episcopal churches, as well as Lutheran, Methodist, Roman
Catholic and others, paint their doors red to symbolize that they are
a haven for emotional and spiritual healing and a place for
forgiveness and reconciliation. In other words, their red doors are
an invitation to visitors to enter a space filled with the Holy
Spirit. Bright red doors shine with welcoming warmth. They gleam
like fire and show the way to the Holy Spirit to all who walk through
them.
This
is your official “red” invitation to walk through the doors at
Trinity Gatlinburg!
Elaine
Conger, Music Director