Lyrics Page

Church

By David Dunn

1,225 views Sep 23, 2026 updated Perspectives album Verified editorial review

Song Meaning

David Dunn lists the routine mechanics of a Sunday morning before questioning what any of it actually means in "Church" — "brick walls, steeples, open every Sunday, come one, come all, least that's what the signs say... check it off, sing a song 'bout the cross, then we all drive off." The ritual is described almost mechanically, on purpose.

"Stained glass, plate passed, open at 9 to 3, hymnals, altar calls, the words are up on the screen, anything to persuade and retain" keeps piling up the visible trappings of a church service before the song's actual argument arrives. "What the Church is isn't only a building, just like worship isn't only a feeling" names the distinction directly rather than assuming it's obvious.

"It's not a place that you point to, it's the eyes you look into, it's you and I" closes the song by relocating the church entirely — not abandoning the building, but refusing to let it stand in for the actual people the word was always meant to describe.

Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team

Brick walls

Steeples

Open every Sunday

Come one

Come all

Least that's what the signs say

Got an hour for a shave and a shower

Get the kids packed up

Check it off sing a song 'bout the cross

Then we all drive off


What the Church is

Isn't only a building

Just like worship

Isn't only a feeling

Grab a seat, hear the lesson

Come thou fount of every blessing

Check it off, yeah its good enough

What the church is

Isn't only a building

The Church is us


Stained glass

Plate passed

Open at 93

Hymnals

Altar calls

The words are up on the screen

Anything, to persuade and retain

No empty seats

If you're hurt, take a shirt, this is church

See you all next week


What the Church is

Isn't only a building

Just like worship

Isn't only a feeling

Grab a seat, hear the lesson

Come thou fount of every blessing

Check it off, yeah its good enough

What the church is

Isn't only a building

The Church is us


Not a place that you point to

It's the eyes you look into

It's you & I, you & I

Let the Church rise

It's not a place that you point to

It's the eyes you look into

It's you & I, you & I

Come alive


What the Church is

Isn't only a building

Just like worship

Isn't only a feeling

Grab a seat, hear the lesson

Come thou fount of every blessing

Check it off, yeah its good enough

What the church is

Isn't only a building

The Church is us

Not a place that you point to

It's the eyes you look into

It's you & I, you & I

It's me and you


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