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Shredingerz Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Word order in church names

Hello!
I would like to ask if there is a certain common word order in the names of churches (I mean, churches as buildings).

For instance, are such names equally correct and interchangeable:

The Church of the Three Holy Hierarchs
The Three Holy Hierarchs Church

The Transfiguration of the Saviour Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour

All Saints' Church
The Church of All Saints

SS. Peter and Paul's Church
The Church of SS. Peter and Paul

If the name of a church includes the name of the city in which it is situated, should it be in the first place, like:
Chernihiv St. George's Cathedral (Chernihiv is a name of the city)
or
St. George's Chernihiv Cathedral?

Also, am I correct to think that names of churches require no article, unless they contain the "OF + ..." clause? (I used the definite article in the first two examples, because 'the Three Holy Hierarchs' and 'the Transfiguration' seem to be the concepts that require definite article on their own, am I right?)

Thank your for your answers!
  

Top answer

Hello, Shredingerz—and welcome to English Forums. I would like to ask if there is a certain common word order in the names of churches- - No. Each church chooses its own preferred name.

  • Hello, Shredingerz—and welcome to English Forums.
  • I would like to ask if there is a certain common word order in the names of churches- - No.
  • Each church chooses its own preferred name.
  • " clause?
  • -- Probably, but you must check the individual church's official usage.
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3 Answers
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Hello, Shredingerz—and welcome to English Forums.

I would like to ask if there is a certain common word order in the names of churches-- No. Each church chooses its own preferred name.

Also, am I correct to think that names of churches require no article, unless they contain the "OF + ..." clause?-- Probably, but you must check the individual church's off
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I see. So, if there is no established English name for a church yet, I can use either variant, can't I?
Many thanks.
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You should look up the names of churches. The name they are popularly known by often bears little resemblance to their official name. The Washington National Cathedral is really the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. St Paul's in London is the Cathedral Church of Paul the Apostle. St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican. The Duomo in Florence i

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