Nave
Mass
deans
Are is the three letter word. Add an A to the end and you have Area.
reception
lea
A four letter word for church recess would be apse.
encyclical
Nave?
hymnbook
apse
Mass
deans
farts
Crust is 5 letter word. It describes area of surface of earth.
naves, apses
Apse
The area of a church where christenings take place is called the baptistery.