As churches across Europe face declining congregations and shifting social realities, the question of how to keep sacred spaces relevant and meaningful to society has become increasingly urgent. In the book ‘Adaptive Reuse of Roman Catholic Churches: Good Practice and Viable Solutions for Converting Sacred Spaces‘, Maria Arno offers a timely and comprehensive study of this complex transformation, examining how former and active Roman Catholic churches can be reimagined for contemporary use while preserving their spiritual, historical, and cultural significance.
The book examines the adaptive reuse of Roman Catholic churches through twenty-five case studies from Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. It addresses the complex intersection of theology, heritage conservation, and contemporary social needs and explores how sacred spaces can serve new secular purposes while preserving their spiritual, historical, and cultural significance.
The book
Integrating historical, theological, architectural, and policy perspectives, the book traces the historical evolution of church reuse, the impact of secularization, and the ethical responsibilities of architects, alongside the conservation principles that shape sacred heritage management.
Theological reflections address ecclesiastical spatial symbolism, canon law, profanation, and episcopal guidelines in the selected countries. Comparative national profiles analyze religious demographics, church infrastructure, and property stewardship. Case studies illustrate diverse reuse models – from liturgical continuity to radical transformation – across cultural, social, commercial, residential, and interfaith contexts. The conclusions synthesize the findings, offering strategies that balance heritage preservation with contemporary functional needs.
This publication is aimed at architects, historians, art theorists, architecture researchers, conservators, priests, and the managers of these buildings, as well as enthusiasts of sacred architecture who care deeply about its future, as the book is intentionally multi-layered and
multi-dimensional.
This book is included in the series: Routledge Research in Architectural Conservation and Historic Preservation.
It will be available for purchase in April 2026: https://www.routledge.com/Adaptive-Reuse-of-Roman-Catholic-Churches-Good-Practice-and-Viable-Solutions-for-Converting-Sacred-Spaces/Arno/p/book/9781032883007
About the author
Maria Arno (PhD) is an architect and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology. She earned both her MA degree in Architecture and Urban Planning (2016) and her PhD (2023) from the same institution. Her work focuses on sacred and monumental architecture, and she is the author of articles and scholarly publications on the adaptive reuse of churches, monument preservation, and sustainable architectural development.
She is a member of Future for Religious Heritage, the European Academy of Religion, and the ICOMOS Poland Committee on the History and Conservation of Sacred Architecture.
Critics’ Reviews:
“The issue of repurposing decommissioned churches is a complex challenge, as it touches on sensitive aspects not only from a theological standpoint, but also from social and economic perspectives. Maria Arno’s book serves as a valuable resource for professionals and scholars seeking both theoretical insight and practical guidance. The historical perspective helps to temper the sense of urgency, while the design perspective aids in evaluating concrete implementations.”
Andrea Longhi, Full Professor of History of Architecture at the Politecnico di Torino and a member of the ICOMOS–PRERICO Italian Committee. He advised the Pontifical Council for Culture on research and the implementation of the Guidelines for the Decommissioning and Ecclesial Reuse of Churches (2018).
Follow us: