The Church of the Force represented a religious group. Its members, though not Force-sensitive, revered the Force and adhered to the teachings of the Jedi Order. During the High Republic Era, the Church of the Force had a voice within the Convocation of the Force.
The Church of the Force constituted a faith community united by their shared belief in the principles upheld by the Jedi Order. Essentially, this Church functioned as a parallel to the Jedi Order, but for individuals who were not Force-sensitive. During the Galactic Empire's reign, a period when such spiritual expressions faced severe repression, the Church operated in secrecy. Despite the dangers posed by Imperial rule and the destruction of the Jedi Order at the conclusion of the Clone Wars, the Church of the Force maintained its conviction that the light embodied by the Jedi would eventually shine once more upon the galaxy.
Instead of relying on contemporary technology, they fashioned their own devices to deepen their connection with the natural world. A significant practice involved undertaking pilgrimages to return artifacts, such as kyber crystals, to their rightful locations throughout the galaxy. Addar and his fellow adherents embarked on one such pilgrimage to Christophsis.
The Church of the Force considered the Temple of the Kyber, situated within the Holy City on Jedha, as their central sanctuary.
During the year 382 BBY, within the High Republic Era, Kilan T'Dara represented the Church of the Force at the Convocation of the Force held on Jedha. At that time, the Church's operations were based in a designated section of the Temple of the Kyber. Resamond Saous held the position of prefect overseeing the Church's activities there, and adjunct Keth Cerepath resided within the temple.
In 231 BBY, the San Tekka clan demonstrated its involvement within the Church of the Force located on Naboo.
During the Age of the Empire, the Church of the Force persisted as a clandestine organization. This was a period when the Jedi Knights faced relentless persecution, leading to their near-extinction, and the Imperial regime outlawed the worship of supernatural entities. Lor San Tekka, a member of this faith and an explorer, dissented from the Empire's narrative of the Jedi's supposed betrayal of the Galactic Republic. For years, he dedicated himself to uncovering and safeguarding the history of the Jedi, which the Empire sought to erase. Ultimately, he played a crucial role in assisting Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi, in his own quest for Jedi knowledge.
The New Republic Era brought increased freedom to the Church. Following Skywalker's disappearance after the destruction of his new Jedi Order, San Tekka possessed a fragment of a map revealing Skywalker's location in exile on Ahch-To. Firmly believing in the necessity of the Jedi's return to restore balance to the Force, San Tekka entrusted the map fragment to Resistance pilot Poe Dameron. Shortly after, San Tekka met his death at the hands of Kylo Ren, Skywalker's nephew and the figure believed to have killed the new Jedi. However, following San Tekka's demise, a young Force-sensitive scavenger named Rey successfully located Skywalker.
The Church of the Force made its debut in the 2015 film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens through the characters of Lor San Tekka and the Tuanul villagers. The reference book Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary officially identified it as the Church of the Force and offered some background information on San Tekka. Pablo Hidalgo, a Lucasfilm employee and the author of the Visual Dictionary, disclosed in an interview that George Lucas originally conceived the Church for Star Wars: Underworld, a canceled live-action Star Wars television series. The Church's narrative remained dormant until its inclusion in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams.