History Main / BloodStainedGlassWindows

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', one optional battle [[spoiler:with the real Black Mask]] takes place in a church. [[spoiler:And the final battle with the Joker in a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown takes place in a prison chapel near the execution chamber in Blackgate Prison. Though neither place is stained with blood, there is, however, the fact that the Joker brandishes a literal [[GunsInChurch Gun in the Chapel]] and may not hesitate to bring in a {{Pretty Little Headshot|s}} to kill Batman if he doesn't counter (especially in [[HarderThanHard I Am the Night Mode]]).]]

* The first major shootout in the present day from ''OnceUponATimeInMexico'', which has Mariachi blasting up Marquez's men at a church, which starts with the bad guys ventilating the confessional he was in.

* Creator/JackieChan's ''ShanghaiNoon'' has guns ''and'' swords in a church. And Owen Wilson dressed up as a monk...

* It happened surprisingly often in European history. The most notorious is probably the murder of Thomas Beckett that inspired Elliot's ''Murder in the Cathedral'' (and, indirectly, ''The Canterbury Tales''.) Other prominent incidents were RobertTheBruce's murder of his rival John Comyn in a church, and the attempted assassination of Lorenzo de Medici during Mass - the latter being particularly shocking because the conspirators arguably included ''[[SinisterMinister the Pope!]]''

In one of the later levels ''Ministry of Smiths'' in ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' Smith has ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin taken over a church and Neo has to defeat the church full of Smiths to save Morpheus.

* In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', a minor but still bloody ([[BlackComedy and almost humorous]]). Right before a showdown between the female titan and titan Eren, it cuts to a scene of some loony priest of the wall preaching that faith is all that they need to be safe. Cue the female titan being knocked right through the church and squishing several people flat.

* In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', a minor example played for laughs. Right before a showdown between the female titan and titan Eren, it cuts to a scene of some loony priest of the wall preaching that faith is all that they need to be safe. Cue the female titan being knocked right through the church.

* ''Film/ANightmareOnElmstreet4TheDreamMaster'' features a martial arts showdown in a Catholic church between Freddy Krueger and the FinalGirl.

Also known as the ChurchShootout, if it only involves [[TheGunslinger gunfire and no katanas]]. Compare WeddingSmashers and BloodSplatteredWeddingDress.

* In Anime/AttackOnTitan, a minor example played for laughs. Right before a showdown between the female titan and titan Eren, it cuts to a scene of some loony priest of the wall preaching that faith is all that they need to be safe. Cue the female titan being knocked right through the church.

* In Creator/KevinSmith's run on {{Daredevil}} (the "Guardian Devil" arc), a major fight between Daredevil and Bullseye takes place in a Catholic church. (See also the note on ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'' in the film section below.)

* Ever since ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' introduced the [[SaintlyChurch Belkan Saint Church]], this was pretty much inevitable. One such battle appeared in the fourth chapter of ''Force'' between Tohma and [[BloodKnight Veyron]].

[[caption-width-right:300:[[IncrediblyLamePun God knows]] why they're fighting ''here'' of all places.]]

Staging an awesome fight scene, be it a shootout or a SwordFight, a duel or a MeleeATrois, in a ([[ChristianityIsCatholic usually Catholic]]) cathedral, chapel, or church apparently has something thrilling for the directors, as does any forbidden fruit. And a shot of Jesus looking mournfully from the [[CreepyCoolCrosses cross]] upon the bloodshed below certainly adds FauxSymbolism to it.

Commonly seen in HeroicBloodshed movies and {{Anime}}, causing much ValuesDissonance among the Westerners. May involve a ChurchMilitant or two but it's not mandatory. Bonus points if OminousLatinChanting with religious lyrics are added. Double bonus points if there are [[DisturbedDoves doves]] flying around during the mayhem. SceneryPorn may be a factor when the building is particularly ornate or the stained glass itself is given particular attention.

* ''[[Manga/{{Appleseed}} Appleseed Ex Machina]]'' opens with an ''awesome'' ChurchShootout. What's up with John Woo and churches?

* In ''{{Manga/Saiyuki}}'', the final battle against Kami-Sama plays with this: the villain lives in a temple with huge Western-style stained-glass windows, in front of which the final battle occurs. [[spoiler:They shatter beautifully after his defeat, as the temple falls to pieces around him [[ManBehindTheMan and his mentor]].]]

* Episode two of ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'' has Kuuga's true power awakening as he fights a Grongi in a church. Bonus points because the church is [[BattleAmongstTheFlames BURNING]].

* In ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII Assassin's Creed II]]'' you perform your final mission by [[spoiler: leaping from the rafters of the Sistine Chapel to assassinate Pope Alexander VI during High Mass, before having a sword duel and a fistfight. [[MundaneMadeAwesome A fistfight with the Pope!]]]]

* In ''VideoGame/RedFaction II'', one of the later chapters takes place in and around a church of sorts. The boss fight for the chapter is against [[spoiler:Quill]], whom, appropriately enough, fires at you from a balcony in front of the stained glass window. [[SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfAwesome The fight ends with you shooting them]] ''[[DestinationDefenestration through said window.]]''

* This visual image is a huge part of the aesthetic of Warhammer 40,000. Indeed, it is almost impossible to find a piece of 40k artwork that doesn't have the ruins of gigantic, forbidding gothic architecture as the backround to a ferocious gun battle. Several sets of model scenery are available to reproduce this look on a tabletop battlefield, including the Shrine of the Aquila, Chapel of Vengeance and Honoured Imperium set.

* In ''VideoGame/RedFaction II'', one of the later chapters takes place in and around a church of sorts. The boss fight for the chapter is against [[spoiler:Quill]], whom, appropriately enough, fires at you from a balcony in front of the stained glass window. [[SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfAwesome The fight ends with you shooting them]] ''[[SoftGlass through said window.]]''

* Episode two of ''KamenRiderKuuga'' has Kuuga's true power awakening as he fights a Grongi in a church. Bonus points because the church is [[BattleAmongstTheFlames BURNING]].

* The "final" battle between Freddy Krueger and the main protagonist of ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet 4: The Dream Master'' ends with a battle in a Catholic church.

* An attempt to [[InvokedTrope invoke]] this trope is {{Subverted}} in ''TheMonsterSquad''. The {{KidHero}}es are GenreSavvy enough to ''try'' and stage the final showdown with the monsters inside the church as "monsters hate religious stuff." Unfortunately, the door's locked, so they have to do their fighting in the street outside.

* An attempt to [[InvokedTrope invoke]] this trope is {{Subverted}} in ''TheMonsterSquad''. The {{KidHero}}es are GenreSavvy enough to ''try'' and stage the final showdown with the monsters inside the church as "monsters hate religious stuff." Unfortunately, the door's locked, so they have to do their fighting in the street outside.

* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3'' features a background known as the Kombat Temple (also known as the Church), which returned for its updates, ''Mortal Kombat Gold'', and ''MortalKombat9''.

* ''[[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon F.E.A.R.]]'''s first expansion.

* The final boss battle of ''DoubleDragon II: The Revenge'' for the NES and PC Engine.

* Unsurprisingly this happens quite often in the various incarnations of GoNagai's ''{{Manga/Devilman}}''.