Why is it that so many Episcopalian churces in the United States have main entry doors that are colored red?

A search shows a few various answers, I like Number 2 personally, but here are the three I found listed


One explanation was that red indicated the mortgage was paid. I take this with a grain of salt since I also was told the starred verses in the hymnal indicated the theologically questionable verses! It wasn't until a seminary liturgy class when I volunteered this information that I discovered it was meant to be a joke, albeit one I didn't get at the time.

The second, and I think logical, explanation is the red door indicates the Holy Spirit's presence.


In the earlier days of the church it was understood that a soldier could not pursue an enemy that had entered through the red doors of a church. The red doors were a symbol of refuge and sanctuary for all people who entered. To all concerned the red on the doors signified the blood of Christ that had been shed so that all who came to him could be saved. Anyone who passed through those doors was safe as long as they stayed behind them.