Ecclesiophobia

Ecclesiophobia is the fear of churches, a type of specific phobia. There are two primary causes of fear: fear of a deity or deities, or because of the unique architectural style of churches.

There are many things in the church that can be disturbing, such as images of sufferings that trigger fears of blood and death. Also, being a religious venue, those that believe in God may feel as though they are being watched and judged by God when inside a church. The sound of a church organ can also sound haunting to some. Being in a small chapel can cause claustrophobia.