Deconsecration

A church building in Katoomba, Australia, converted into a restaurant

Deconsecration, also referred to as decommissioning or secularization (a term also used for the external confiscation of church property),^[1] is the removal of a religious sanction and blessing from something that had been previously consecrated for spiritual use. This can be of any particular thing, including people or places, that may have been considered holy or blessed in some way in the past.

In particular, church buildings no longer required for religious use are deconsecrated for secular use or demolition.^[2]

^ Donald S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum (2000). "Secularizing a Consecrated Building". An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. This service is used to deconsecrate and secularize a consecrated building that is to be taken down or used for other purposes.
^ "Deconsecration of a London Church". The New York Times. November 3, 1876.

[1] Donald S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum (2000). "Secularizing a Consecrated Building". An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. This service is used to deconsecrate and secularize a consecrated building that is to be taken down or used for other purposes.

[2] "Deconsecration of a London Church". The New York Times. November 3, 1876.

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