Originally, Soavi and Argento wanted to shoot the movie in the Lorenzkirche of Nuremberg (Germany), and even did some test shots there. However, it was abandoned because the town of Nuremberg didn't want a horror movie to be shot there.
Though it was originally conceived as another entry in the popular Demons series, director Michele Soavi insisted that the film stand alone and not be connected with the films Demons (1985) or Demons 2 (1986). In an interview Soavi referred to the Demons films as 'pizza schlock' and wanted La Chiesa to be more sophisticated.
The image of the biker's naked girl friend hugging a winged snake-man is taken directly from a famous Boris Vallejo painting.
Lotte, the Sacristan's daughter, was played by Asia Argento in one of her earliest acting roles. Her father, Dario Argento, worked extensively on the making of the film in various positions.
The paperback book Lisa is given by Evan, titled "Mysteries of the Cathedrals" by Fulcanelli, is indeed a real published title, although the specific edition Lisa is given is considered to be rare and/or non-existent by book collectors who have sought it, unable to find its specific cover artwork or an ISBN for the edition. Other new and used editions, as of 2021, continue to exist. Fulcanelli is a fabled alchemist, and the author name is considered to be a pseudonym by historians.