Cologne Cathedral, Germany, bearing the tallest paired spires in the world.

Salisbury Cathedral from the east. 1220-1380. An essay in Early English Gothic with the tallest spire in England.

Coutances Cathedral, the spectacular Gothic interior, looking toward the crossing and chancel.Pouhier 2005

Cathedral of Leon

A cathedral is a church, usually Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox, housing the seat of a bishop. The word cathedral takes its name from the word cathedra, or Bishop's Throne (In Latin: ecclesia cathedralis). The term is often (sometimes improperly) used to refer to a church of great size. Download high resolution version (480x640, 98 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (480x640, 98 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom, official name: ) is one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany and has been Colognes most famous landmark since its completion in the late 19th century. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1352x1120, 349 KB) Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1352x1120, 349 KB) Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x1136, 486 KB) Summary FR : Vue intérieure de la cathédrale de Coutances, Manche, France EN : Interior view of Coutances cathedral, department of Manche, France Author : -- Eric Pouhier Date : November 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x1136, 486 KB) Summary FR : Vue intérieure de la cathédrale de Coutances, Manche, France EN : Interior view of Coutances cathedral, department of Manche, France Author : -- Eric Pouhier Date : November 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this... Coutances Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral in the French town of Coutances. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (516x688, 97 KB) Cathedral of León. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (516x688, 97 KB) Cathedral of León. ... A cathedral is a religious building for worship, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican and some Lutheran churches, which serves as a bishops seat, and thus as the central church of a diocese. ... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... This article is about a title or office in religious bodies. ... A cathedral is a religious building for worship, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican and some Lutheran churches, which serves as a bishops seat, and thus as the central church of a diocese. ... The cathedra of the Pope in the apse of St. ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

The church that has the function of cathedral is not of necessity a large building. It might be as small as Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. But frequently, the cathedral, along with some of the abbey churches, was the largest building in any region.^[1] A cathedral is a religious building for worship, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican and some Lutheran churches, which serves as a bishops seat, and thus as the central church of a diocese. ... Christ Church Cathedral spire. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This following is a List of largest buildings in the world by usable space (volume), mass and area. ...

There were a number of reasons for this:

• The cathedral was created to the Glory of God. It was seen as appropriate that it should be as grand and as beautiful as wealth and skill could make it.^[2]
• As the seat of a Bishop, the Cathedral was the location for certain liturgical rites, such as the Ordination of Priests, which brought together large numbers of clergy and people.
• It functioned as an ecclesiastical and social meeting-place for many people, not just those of the town in which it stood, but also, on occasions, for the entire region.
• The cathedral often had its origins in a monastic foundation and was a place of worship for members of a holy order who said the mass privately at a number of small chapels within the cathedral.
• The cathedral often became a place of worship and burial for wealthy local patrons. These patrons often endowed the cathedrals with money for successive enlargements and building programs.

The role of bishop as administrator of local clergy came into being in the 1st century.^[3]It was two hundred years before the first cathedral building was constructed in Rome. With the legalising of Christianity in 313 CE by the Emperor Constantine I, churches were built rapidly. Five very large churches were founded in Rome and, though much altered or rebuilt, still exist today, including the Cathedral of Rome which is San Giovanni in Laterano and also the better-known St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.^[4] A place of worship is a building or other locations where religious persons may worship their deity, regularly or not. ... Head of Constantines colossal statue at Musei Capitolini Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus[1] (February 27, 272–May 22, 337), commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or (among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic[2] Christians) Saint Constantine, was a Roman Emperor, proclaimed Augustus by his troops on... Late Baroque façade of the Basilica, completed, after a competition for the design, by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 St. ... This article is about the famous building in Rome. ...

The form which cathedrals took was largely dependent upon their ritual function as the seat of a bishop. Cathedrals are places where, in common with other Christian churches, the Eucharist is celebrated, the Bible is read, the Order of Service is said or sung, prayers are offered and sermons are preached. But in a cathedral, in general, these things are done with a greater amount of elaboration, pageantry and procession than in lesser churches. This elaboration is particularly present during important liturgical rites performed by a Bishop, such as Confirmation and Ordination. A cathedral is often the site of rituals associated with local or national Government, the Bishops performing the tasks of all sorts from the induction of a mayor to the coronation of a monarch. Some of these tasks are apparent in the form and fittings of particular cathedrals.^[2] Confirmation can refer to: Confirmation (sacrament) Confirmation (epistemology) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... The coronation of Empress Farah, of Iran in 1967. ...

Cathedrals are also traditionally places of pilgrimage, to which people travel from afar to celebrate certain important feast days or to visit the shrine associated with a particular saint. An extended eastern end is often found at cathedrals where the remains of a saint are interred behind the High Altar.^[5] This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more saints, and referring to the day as that saints day. ...

As cathedrals were constructed throughout the Roman Empire and then throughout the world, their manner of building was dependent upon local materials and local techniques. Different styles of architecture developed and their fashion spread, carried by the establishment of monastic orders, by the posting of bishops from one region to another and by the travelling of master stonemasons who served as architects.^[6] The styles of the great church buildings are successively known as Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, various Revival styles of the late 18th to early 20th centuries and Modern.^[7] Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire. ... Architectural style is a way of classifying architecture largely by morphological characteristics - in terms of form, techniques, materials, etc. ... The art and craft of the stonemason has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures and sculpture using stone and other raw materials from the earth. ... The Good Shepherd: Early Christian catacomb art Early Christian art and architecture is the art produced by Christians or under Christian patronage from about the year 200 to about the year 500. ... Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Interior of Cologne Cathedral Gothic architecture is a style of architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, which flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period. ... Tempietto di San Pietro in Montorio, Rome, 1502, by Bramante. ... Baroque architecture, starting in the early 17th century in Italy, took the humanist Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical, theatrical, sculptural fashion, expressing the triumph of absolutist church and state. ... Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The Carson Mansion is an example of a Victorian home in Eureka, California, USA The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ... Le Corbusiers Villa Savoye, a well known example of modern architecture Modern architecture,not to be confused with contemporary architecture, is a term given to a number of building styles with similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament, that first arose around 1900. ...

Overlaid on each of the academic styles are the regional characteristics. Some of these characteristics are so typical of a particular country or region that they appear, regardless of style, in the architecture of cathedrals designed many centuries apart.^[7]

Note

• The term basilica is used in two ways — firstly as "basilica" to describe a Ancient Roman court of law and place of meeting, secondly as "Basilica" to designate a Catholic church (which may or may not be a cathedral) but which has special ritual function and has been awarded the title by the Pope.
• The term "Minster" (or Munster) is applied to some churches and cathedrals of monastic origin. In some cases abbey churches have become cathedrals, particularly in England and Germany at the time of the Reformation. Some cathedrals have always been associated with houses of clerics.
• Because this article primarily concerns architectural form, five non-episcopal ancient churches, the architecture of which is part of the cathedral oeuvre, are discussed here among the cathedrals. They are The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome; The Church of San Vitale, Ravenna; St Mark's Basilica, Venice; Westminster Abbey, London and St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

St. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope of Rome... In English usage a Minster is a grand type of church; the term may be extended to apply to a cathedral, such as York Minster. ... Bold textTHIS IS THE PAGE THAT A.S. REALLY NEEDS!! THIS IS NOW MARKED!!! ] ps i like A.O. This article is about an abbey as a Christian monastic community. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... Saint Mary Major, in Italian, Santa Maria Maggiore, is one of the five great ancient basilicas of Rome, Italy. ... For the Basilica di San Marco in Rome, see Basilica di San Marco (Rome). ... The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often mistaken for one), in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... Interior view, with the nave of the Cattedra in the back St. ...

Origins and development of the cathedral building

Plan of old St Peter's, showing atrium (courtyard), narthex (vestibule), central nave with double aisles, a bema for the clergy extending into a transept, and an exedra or semi-circular apse.

The cathedral building grew out of a number of features of the Ancient Roman period- Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1199x743, 24 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1199x743, 24 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe ...

• The house church
• The atrium
• The basilica
• The bema
• The mausoleum - centrally-planned building
• The cruciform ground plan - Latin or Greek cross

From house church to church

The first very large Christian churches were built in Rome and have their origins in the early 4th century, when the Emperor Constantine first legalised Christianity. Several of Rome's largest churches, notably Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni in Laterano, have their foundation in the 4th century. It is San Giovanni (St John's) and not the more famous St. Peter's Basilica which is the cathedral church of Rome. St Peter's is also of 4th century foundation, though nothing of that appears above the ground.^[8] Saint Mary Major, in Italian, Santa Maria Maggiore, is one of the five great ancient basilicas of Rome, Italy. ... Late Baroque façade of the Basilica, completed, after a competition for the design, by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 St. ... This article is about the famous building in Rome. ...

San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome. The cloister, an arcaded courtyard decorated by the Cosmati family.

Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano ... Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano ... Late Baroque façade of the Basilica, completed, after a competition for the design, by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 St. ...

Atrium

The early Christian communities of Rome worshipped secretly in private houses. Eventually churches were built on the sites of many of these houses and still exist today. The churches bore little resemblance to the houses that preceded them, but they drew on one feature, the atrium, or courtyard with a colonnade surrounding it. Most of these atriums have disappeared. A fine example remains at the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome. We see the descendants of these atria in the large square cloisters that can be found beside many cathedrals, and in the huge colonnaded squares or piazzi at the Basilicas of St Peter's in Rome and St Mark's in Venice and the Camposanto (Field of Saints) at the Cathedral of Pisa. In Anatomy, atrium refers to a structure of the heart. ... Enormous colonnade of the Kazan Cathedral in St Petersburg. ... The Basilica of San Clemente is a complex of buildings in Rome, Italy centered around a 12th century Roman Catholic church dedicated to Pope Clement I. The site is notable as being an archeological record of Roman architectural, political and religious history from the early Christian era to the Middle... Cloister of Saint Trophimus, in Arles, France A Cloister is part of cathedrals and abbeys architecture. ... Giuseppe Piazzi. ...

Basilica

Cathedral of San Giovanni in Laterano. Basilical plan terminates in an apse. Nave transformed by Borromini, 17th century.

Early church architecture did not draw its form from Roman temples, as the latter were not places for massed gatherings. They did not usually have large internal spaces where a worshipping congregation could meet. It was the Roman basilica, used for meetings, markets and courts of law that provided a model for the large Christian church and that gave its name to the Christian basilica. Both Roman basilicas and Roman bath houses had at their core a large vaulted building with a high roof, braced on either side by a series of lower chambers or a wide arcaded passage. An important feature of the Roman basilica was that at either end it had a projecting exedra, or apse, a semicircular space roofed with a half-dome. This was where the magistrates sat to hold court. It passed into the church architecture of the Roman world and was adapted in different ways as a feature of cathedral architecture.^[8] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (890x667, 161 KB) from de:wiki with these data: Beschreibung: Das Bild zeigt den Innenraum der Lateransbasilika in Rom. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (890x667, 161 KB) from de:wiki with these data: Beschreibung: Das Bild zeigt den Innenraum der Lateransbasilika in Rom. ... Late Baroque façade of the Basilica, completed, after a competition for the design, by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 St. ... Francesco Borromini (Bissone near Lugano, Switzerland, September 25, 1599 – August 3, 1667 in Rome) was a Baroque architect, and active in Rome alongside the more prolific papal architect, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. ... St. ... St. ... The basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, built in the tepidarium of the baths The church of San Bernardo alle Terme recycled an old circular tower at the southwestern corner of the perimeter wall of the baths, one of four towers defining its grounds. ... An exedra adopted by James Cameron for a neoclassical interior space, at the Hermitage In architecture an exedra is a semicircular recess, often crowned by a half-dome, which is usually set into a buildings facade. ... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ...

The earliest large churches, such as the Cathedral of San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome, consisted of a single-ended basilica with one aspidal end and a courtyard, or atrium, at the other end. As Christian liturgy developed, processions became part of the proceedings. The processional door was that which led from the furthest end of the building, while the door most used by the public might be that central to one side of the building, as in a basilica of law. This is often the case in many cathedrals and churches.^[9] Late Baroque façade of the Basilica, completed, after a competition for the design, by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 St. ... A liturgy is the customary public worship of a religious group, according to their particular traditions. ...

Bema

As numbers of clergy increased, so did the space that they occupied. The small apse which contained the altar, or table upon which the sacramental bread and wine was laid in the rite of Holy Communion, was not sufficient for a large number of clergy to worship. A raised dais called a bema formed part of many large basilican churches. In the case of St. Peter's Basilica and San Paolo fuori le Mura (St Paul's outside the Walls) in Rome, this bema extended laterally beyond the main meeting hall, forming two arms so that the building took on the shape of a T with a projecting apse. From this beginning, the plan of the church developed into the so-called Latin Cross which is the shape of most Western Cathedrals and large churches. The arms of the cross are called the transept.^[9] The Eucharist is either the Christian sacrament of consecrated bread and wine or the ritual surrounding it. ... This article is about the famous building in Rome. ... St. ... The traditional form of the Christian cross, known as the Latin cross The Christian cross is a familiar religious symbol of most Christianity. ...

Mausoleum of Santa Costanza in Rome, a circular chapel built by Constantine in the 4th century.

Image File history File links Santa_Costanza_-_vista_dalla_basilica_costantiniana. ... Image File history File links Santa_Costanza_-_vista_dalla_basilica_costantiniana. ... View of the mausoleum of Santa Costanza from the Constantinian cemetery basilica. ...

Mausoleum

One of the influences on church architecture was the mausoleum. The mausoleum of a noble Roman was a square or circular domed structure which housed a sarcophagus. The Emperor Constantine built for his daughter Costanza a mausoleum which has a circular central space surrounded by a lower ambulatory or passageway separated by a colonnade. Santa Costanza's burial place became a place of worship as well as a tomb. It is one of the earliest church buildings that was centrally, rather than longitudinally planned. There was another significant place of worship in Rome that was also circular, the vast Pantheon, with its numerous statue-filled niches. This too was to become a Christian church and lend its style to the development of Cathedral architecture.^[4][8] Religious architecture is the style and requirements followed for building religious buildings. ... St. ... Stone sarcophagus of Pharaoh Merenptah Detail of a stone sarcophagus in the Istanbul Archeological Museum showing a hunting scene Anthropoid sarcophagus discovered at Cádiz A sarcophagus is a stone container for a coffin or body. ... Constantine. ... View of the mausoleum of Santa Costanza from the Constantinian cemetery basilica. ... Facade of the Pantheon The Pantheon (Latin Pantheon[1], from Greek Πάνθεον Pantheon, meaning Temple of all the Gods) is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets in the state religion of Ancient Rome. ...

Plan of the Renaissance St Peter's Basilica, showing elements of both central and longitudinal plan.

Image File history File links StPetersplan_OttoLeuger1904. ... Image File history File links StPetersplan_OttoLeuger1904. ...

Latin Cross and Greek Cross

While the churches of Western Europe favoured the longitudinal plan of the so-called Latin cross, the churches of Byzantium favoured the centrally-planned Greek cross surmounted by a dome and with several apses. The greatest of all such buildings is the church of the Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul. These buildings were to later play a part in the development of cathedral architecture in Western Europe.^[7]
The traditional form of the Christian cross, known as the Latin cross The Christian cross is a familiar religious symbol of most Christianity. ... Byzantium (Greek: Βυζάντιον) was an ancient Greek city, which, according to legend, was founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas or Byzantas (Βύζας or Βύζαντας in Greek). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. ...

Section references: Banister Fletcher,^[7] Andre Grabar.^[8]

Architectural forms common to most Cathedrals

Note- Because of the diversity in the individual building history of the cathedrals of Western Europe, this list is a generalised one and not all the characteristics pertain to every building. This list is compiled from Banister Fletcher.^[7] The Gillette Factory on the Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. ...

Plan of Peterborough Cathedral, 12th century, with later elaboration of both east and west ends.

Image File history File links PeterPlanDehio. ... Image File history File links PeterPlanDehio. ... Peterborough Cathedral Plan Peterborough Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, and is very unusual amongst mediæval cathedrals in Britain because of its triple front (dominated by the statues of the three saints) and overall asymmetrical appearance. ...

Plan

Most cathedrals have a cruciform groundplan with a nave crossed by a transept. The transept may be as strongly projecting as at York Minster or not project beyond the aisles as at Amiens. This cladogram shows the relationship among various insect groups. ... Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... Cathedral ground plan. ... York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe and is situated in the city of York in Northern England. ... Amiens is a city and commune in the north of France, 120 km north of Paris. ...

Axis

The axis is generally east/west with external emphasis upon the west front and internal emphasis upon the eastern end. Not every church or cathedral maintains a strict east/west axis, but even in those that do not, the terms East End and West Front are used. A coordinate axis is one of a set of vectors that defines a coordinate system. ...

Vertical emphasis

There is generally a prominent external feature that rises upwards. It may be a dome, a central tower, two western towers or towers at both ends as at Speyer Cathedral. The towers may be finished with pinnacles or spires or a small dome. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

West front of Wells Cathedral showing twin towers and gallery of statues.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 529 KB) Front ouest de la cathédrale de Wells, Somerset, Angleterre. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 529 KB) Front ouest de la cathédrale de Wells, Somerset, Angleterre. ... The west front, completed c. ...

West front

The west front is the most ornate part of the exterior with the processional doors, often three in number, and often richly decorated with sculpture, marble or stone tracery. The facade often has a large window, sometimes a rose window or an impressive sculptural group as its central feature. There are frequently twin towers framing the facade.

Nave

The majority of cathedrals have a high wide nave with a lower aisle separated by an arcade on either side. Occasionally the aisles are as high as the nave, forming a hallenkirche. Many cathedrals have two aisles on either side. Notre Dame de Paris has two aisles and a row of chapels. Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... In a modern church an aisle is a row down the middle of the church with a set of pews on each side. ... The Cleveland Arcade in downtown Cleveland (late 1960s) An arcade is a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of arches or vaults supported by columns, or else it is a covered passage fronted by a series of arches. ... Notre Dame de Paris: Western Facade For the novel by Victor Hugo, see The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ...

Transept

The transept is the arms of the cathedral. In English cathedrals of monastic foundation there are often two transepts. The place where the nave and transept meet is called the crossing and is often surmounted by a small spire called a fleche, a dome or, particularly in England, a large tower, with or without a spire. Cathedral floor plan (crossing is shaded) A crossing, in ecclesiastical architecture, refers to the junction of the four arms of a cruciform (cross-shaped) church. ...

East end

Main article: Cathedral Architecture - Development of the Eastern End in England and France

The east end is the part of the building which shows the greatest diversity of architectural form. At the eastern end, internally, lies the sanctuary where the altar of the cathedral is located. The interior of Coutances Cathedral, photography by Eric Pouhier The larger medieval churches of France and England, the cathedrals and abbeys, have much in common architecturally, an east/west orientation, an external emphasis on the west front and its doors, long arcaded interiors, high vaulted roofs and windows filled with...

East end of Bayeux Cathedral showing its high apse and ambulatory, and ornate central tower.

• Italy and German Romanesque- A rounded end. It may be a lower apse projecting from a higher square end, usual in Italian and German Romanesque. In Italian Gothic there is a high apsidal end, without ambulatory.
• France, Spain, and German Gothic- The eastern end is long and extends into a high vaulted apsidal end. The eastern aisles are continued around this apse, making a lower passage or ambulatory. There may be a group of projecting, radiating chapels called a chevet.
• England- The eastern ends show enormous diversity. Several, such as Norwich Cathedral have maintained the apsidal end with ambulatory. Many have projecting chapels of a great variety of forms, sometimes three in number. No English Cathedral prior to the 19th century has a fully developed chevet. In the some, notably Lincoln Cathedral, the east end presents a square, cliff-like form while in most this severity is broken by a projecting Lady Chapel. There are also examples of the lower aisle continuing around the square east end.

Section references:Banister Fletcher,^[7] Wim Swaan,^[2] Larousse.^[10] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 306 KB) Cathedral of Bayeux, outside / Personal picture taken by user Urban, February 2005 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 306 KB) Cathedral of Bayeux, outside / Personal picture taken by user Urban, February 2005 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Metadata... Bayeux (pronounced ) is a small town and commune in the Calvados département, in Normandy, northwestern France. ... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... Norwich Cathedral: Spire and south transcept. ... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... Lincoln Cathedral shares with Durham the most spectacular placing of any of the British cathedrals. ... The chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and attached to churches of large size. ...

See also: Cathedral diagram Amiens floorplan: massive piers support the west end towers; transepts are abbreviated; seven radiating chapels form the chevet reached from the ambulatory This article discusses cathedral diagrams. ...

Internal features

Nave and aisles of Florence Cathedral

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (820x510, 172 KB) Image from ja. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (820x510, 172 KB) Image from ja. ...

Nave and aisles

The main body of the building, making the longer arm of the cross, where worshippers congregate, is called the nave. The term is from the Latin word for ship. The cathedral is symbolically a ship bearing the people of God through the storms of life. In addition, the high wooden roof of a large church is similarly constructed to the hull of a ship.^[11] Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... A hull is the body or frame of a ship or boat. ...

The nave is braced on either side by lower aisles, separated from the main space by a row of piers or columns. The aisles facilitate the movement of people, even when the nave is full of worshippers. They also strengthen the structure by buttressing the inner walls that carry the high roof, which in the case of many cathedrals, is made of stone.

The pulpit in the nave of St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral, Brussels, with a magnificently carved narrative in wood

. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 357 KB) Brussels Cathedral interior, picture by User:Ellywa File links The following pages link to this file: St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 357 KB) Brussels Cathedral interior, picture by User:Ellywa File links The following pages link to this file: St. ... St. ...

Font, lectern and pulpit

Towards the western end of the nave stands the font, or water basin at which the rite of Baptism is performed. It is placed towards the door because the Baptism signifies entry into the community of the church. Standing to the front of the nave is a lectern from which the Holy Scripture is read. In many churches this takes the form of an eagle which supports the book on its outstretched wings and is the symbol of John the Evangelist. The third significant furnishing of the nave is the pulpit or rostrum from which the sermon is preached and the biblical readings are expounded. The pulpit might be of marble or wood, and may be a simple structure or represent a highly elaborate carved sermon. It is often decorated with the winged figures of a man, a lion, a bull and an eagle, representing the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.^[12] Baptism in early Christian art. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Names of John. ... A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ... For other uses of Ambo, see Ambo, Ethiopia, Kom Ombo, ambulance Ambo (band). ...

The choir stalls and sanctuary of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England.

Download high resolution version (1500x1122, 434 KB) The choir stalls of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1122, 434 KB) The choir stalls of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England. ...

Quire

The second main division of a cathedral is the area where the services take place and the Holy Office is sung, often by a choir of men and boys. This area of the cathedral is called the Choir or Quire. It may be separated from the nave by a highly decorated screen of wood or stone upon which sits the organ. It often has finely carved and decorated wooden seats called the stalls. The bishop's throne or cathedra is usually located in this space. Holy Office can refer to: the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, now called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - the historical Inquisition another word for the Mass (liturgy) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The choir stalls in the quire of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England A quire is the area of a church where the choir sits, also known as the choir. ... The cathedra of the Pope in the apse of St. ...

The High Altar of siena Cathedral, Italy, polychrome marble with bronze ciborium and candelabra.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 559 KB) High Altar by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1506); Duomo; Siena, Italy Bronze ciborium by Lorenzo di Pietro (1472) Bronze angels holding candelabra : upper pair by Domenico Beccafumi; lower pair: by Francesco di Giorgio Martini Own photo - photo made on 11... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 559 KB) High Altar by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1506); Duomo; Siena, Italy Bronze ciborium by Lorenzo di Pietro (1472) Bronze angels holding candelabra : upper pair by Domenico Beccafumi; lower pair: by Francesco di Giorgio Martini Own photo - photo made on 11...

Sanctuary

Beyond the choir for the consecration. 'Sanctuary' means 'Holy Place'. The word has passed into modern English with an altered meaning because a criminal who could gain access to this area without capture was thereby given the sanctuary of the church.

Presbytery and chapels

In many cathedrals there is a further area beyond the sanctuary which is called the Presbytery. This is where the priests or monks could make their private devotions. Often there are many additional chapels located towards the eastern end of the cathedral. The chief among these is the Lady Chapel which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In English cathedrals of monastic foundation, there is often a second transept containing chapels.^[13] A presbytery can be - * the residence of one or more presbyters, priests, or religious elders; - * an area of a church or cathedral reserved for priests; - * the collective college of priests in a diocese, archdiocese, or prelature; - * the local unit in the polity of a Presbyterian church, consisting of presbyters (i. ... The chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and attached to churches of large size. ... The term Virgin Mary has several different meanings: Mary, the mother of Jesus, the historical and multi-denominational concept of Mary Blessed Virgin Mary, the Roman Catholic theological and doctrinal concept of Mary Marian apparitions shrines to the Virgin Mary Virgin Mary in Islam, the Islamic theological and doctrinal concept...

Conveying the Word

Main article: Poor Man's Bible

Regardless of the architectural style, cathedrals were in general designed to make an impression upon the populace. They were designed to awe, to teach and to inspire. To these ends they have certain features, which are also common to many abbeys and parish churches. The decoration of a cathedral often followed a scheme which worked progressively from the exterior to the interior and the west to the east. The term Poor Mans Bible has come into use in modern times to describe works of art within churches and cathedrals which either individually or collectively have been created to illustrate the teachings of the Bible for a largely illiterate population. ...

Christ in Majesty at Autun, rare in having been signed by its creator,Gislebertus.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (820x1031, 158 KB) Summary Main portal of Cathedral of Saint Lazare at Autun, France; sculpture by Gislebertus. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (820x1031, 158 KB) Summary Main portal of Cathedral of Saint Lazare at Autun, France; sculpture by Gislebertus. ... Autun is a town in the Saône-et-Loire département in Burgundy, France, and has a history which dates back to Roman times. ... Gislebertus (flourished in the 12th century), was a French Romanesque sculptor, whose decoration (about 1125-1135) of the Cathedral of Saint Lazare at Autun, France-consisting of numerous doorways, tympanums, and capitals-represents some of the most original work of the period. ...

Doorways of Christ in Majesty

In Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals there is often a depiction of Christ in Majesty above the central door. There are many famous examples in France, including those at Chartres and Angers. Another subject was the Last Judgement and the weighing of souls. A fine Romanesque depiction is that at Autun. The message here is to repent because the hour of the Lord's coming is close at hand. A recurring motif associated with this is The Ten Virgins. Around the doors, in niches or arcades, or attached to the shafts surrounding the door are often found statues of the faithful, both biblical and saints of the church. Chartres is a town and commune of France, préfecture (capital) of the Eure-et-Loir département. ... Maison dAdam, House of Adam, the oldest house of Angers. ... Image:Michelangelo - Fresco of the Last Judgment. ... Autun is a town in the Saône-et-Loire département in Burgundy, France, and has a history which dates back to Roman times. ... Three foolish virgins showing their sorrow at Magdeburg cathedral Three wise virgins showing their joy at Magdeburg cathedral Virgins at Notre Dame de Strasbourg The Ten Virgins is a Parable told by Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 25:1-13). ...

Several of the English Cathedrals had vast sculpture galleries across the west end. These include Lincoln, Salisbury, Wells and Exeter. Many of these have been destroyed or mutilated or have weathered beyond recognition.^[10][14] Lincoln Cathedral shares with Durham the most spectacular placing of any of the British cathedrals. ... Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... The west front, completed c. ... The west front. ...

Poor Man's Bible

Poor Man's Bible window at Canterbury.

For those people who were unable to read or who could not afford to own a Bible, the stories were illustrated around the cathedral, often linking stories of the Gospels with those of the Old Testament, the Acts of the Apostles and sometimes the lives of Saints, creating a Poor Man's Bible. Stories were frequently paired to show how one prefigured the other, eg a depiction of the Crucifixion would be paired with a scene of Moses raising a bronze serpent on a pole, the Deposition into the tomb would be accompanied by a scene of Joseph being thrown down the well and the Resurrection would be paired with Jonah being regurgitated by the whale. The stories might be illustrated in mosaic, painted murals, sculptured panels or stained glass. They might be found around the walls, across the ceilings or on a screen surrounding the choir or sanctuary. Famous examples in stained glass exist at Canterbury and Chartres Cathedrals.^[15] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1390x1195, 733 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1390x1195, 733 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library of Congress. ... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ... Note: Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh. ... The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. ... The term Poor Mans Bible has come into use in modern times to describe works of art within churches and cathedrals which either individually or collectively have been created to illustrate the teachings of the Bible for a largely illiterate population. ... Crucifixion is an ancient method of execution, where the condemned was tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... Deposition is a word used in many fields to describe different processes: In law, deposition is the taking of testimony outside of court. ... Look up Resurrection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Prophet Jonah, as depicted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel Jonah (יוֹנָה Dove, Tiberian Hebrew , Standard Hebrew Yona, Arabic يونس Yunus, or يونان Yunaan, Latin Ionas) was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament) and Muslim Quran who was swallowed by a great fish. ...

Main article: Poor Man's Bible

The term Poor Mans Bible has come into use in modern times to describe works of art within churches and cathedrals which either individually or collectively have been created to illustrate the teachings of the Bible for a largely illiterate population. ...

Signs and Seasons

Part of the decorative scheme is often a depiction of God as the Almighty Creator of the universe. As well as showing the Days of Creation, there is often representation of God's order, with everything in its appointed time and place. To this end are shown the Cycle of the Year with its twelve months depicted by the Signs of the Zodiac and the Labours of the Months. This subject is particularly well suited to rose windows.^[2][10] It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... The term Labours of the Months refers to cycles seen in Medieval and early Renaissance art depicting in twelve scenes the rural activities that commonly took place in the months of the year. ... The rose window in Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England, at the western end of the nave. ...

A Gargoyle of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Notre Dame de Paris: Western Facade For the novel by Victor Hugo, see The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ...

Gryphons, gargoyles, beasts and cherubs

Cathedrals are decorated with a wide variety of creatures and characters, many of which have no obvious link to Christianity. Often the creature was seen to represent some particular vice or virtue or was believed to have a certain characteristic which could serve as a warning or as an example to the Christian believer. One such motif is that of the pelican. It was believed that a pelican was prepared to peck its own breast in order to feed its hungry young. Thus, the pelican became a symbol for the love of Christ for the Church.^[10] Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... Christ is the English of the Greek word (Christós), which literally means The Anointed One. ...

Creatures such as hares, geese, monkeys, foxes, lions, camels, gryphons, unicorns, bees, and storks abound in the decorative carvings of capitals, wall arcading, ceiling bosses and the wooden fittings of cathedrals. Some, like the Gargoyles of Notre Dame, are well known to many. Others, like the Blemyah and Green Man of Ripon Cathedral in England, lurk underneath the folding seats or misericords of the Quire.^[2][16] Roman griffon, Turkey This article is on the animal. ... This article is about the mythical creature. ... Genera Mycteria Anastomus Ciconia Ephippiorhynchus Jabiru Leptoptilos The storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills. ... A gargoyle adorning the Dornoch Cathedral in Dornoch, Scotland. ... The Green Man is a symbol of uncertain origin and meaning, commonly employed as a decorative architectural device in the British Isles and many parts of continental Europe. ... The west front of Ripon minster The interior of the cathedral The East end Ripon Cathedral in Ripon was founded in 672, when it is believed to have been the second stone building erected in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria. ...

Holy Rood at Bad Doberan Cathedral, Germany

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (960x1280, 392 KB) Bad Doberan - Kreuz im Bad Doberaner Münster (Christusseite) Bad Doberan - Crucifix in Bad Doberan Cathedral Source: Photo taken by my own (ABrocke) on May 11th 2003 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (960x1280, 392 KB) Bad Doberan - Kreuz im Bad Doberaner Münster (Christusseite) Bad Doberan - Crucifix in Bad Doberan Cathedral Source: Photo taken by my own (ABrocke) on May 11th 2003 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to...

The Rood

The Rood, from the Old Saxon roda, was a large crucifix placed conspicuously in the church or cathedral, often suspended in the Quire or standing on a screen separating either the Quire or the sanctuary from the rest of the church. The suspended roods could either be painted or carved of wood. In England where rood screens have often survived without the rood itself, it was general for the crucifix to have accompanying figures of Mary the Mother of Christ and either John the Evangelist or John the Baptist carrying a banner bearing the inscription "Behold, the Lamb of God". In Italy roods were created by some of the most famous painters and sculptors- Giotto, Brunelleschi and Donatello. A rood is an old English ( Anglo-Saxon) unit equal to quarter an acre, i. ... Old Saxon, also known as Old Low German, is a Germanic language. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Names of John. ... For the hip-hop producer with the same name, see John the Baptist (producer). ... Brass Agnus Dei from altar-front in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, Kentucky Lamb of God (Latin: Agnus Dei) is one of the titles given to Jesus in the New Testament and consequently in the Christian tradition. ... There are several things that have been named Giotto: Giotto di Bondone an Italian painter. ... Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446, was the first great Florentine architect of the Italian Renaissance. ... Statue of Habacuc (popularly known as Zuccone) for the Giottos Bell Tower. ...

The Ghent Altarpiece of the Adoration of the Lamb by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, 1432, is a polyptych, made of many panels.

Hubert van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece “The Adoration of the Lamb”, painted 1432. ... Hubert van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece “The Adoration of the Lamb”, painted 1432. ... Van Eyck is the name of a family of Flemish painters. ...

The altar

The culmination of the decorative scheme in a cathedral is associated with the East End, the Sanctuary and High Altar. The message conveyed is always that of Salvation through Christ Jesus, but the method and form that the message takes might vary a great deal. In Italy the eastern focal point of the cathedral might be a glittering gold mosaic in the apse above the altar. In Germany or Spain there might be an enormously ornate Baroque altarpiece, such as the so-called "Transparente" at Toledo.^[17] A reredos of carved wood with illustrative panels is found in many cathedrals of France and Germany with several also in England. More frequently, in England, the large stained glass window of the eastern end serves this purpose. There is a magnificent example representing the Apocalypse of St John in York Minster. Look up Altar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In theology, salvation can mean three related things: being saved from something, such as suffering or the punishment of sin - also called deliverance; being saved for something, such as an afterlife or participating in the Reign of God - also called redemption; being saved through a process of healing or transformation... This article is about the figure known by both Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ. For other usages, see Jesus (disambiguation). ... The Annunciation Triptych is an altarpiece, ca. ... An altar and reredos from University Church, Dublin A reredos is a screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images. ... Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ... Look up Apocalypse in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe and is situated in the city of York in Northern England. ...

Section reference: Clifton-Taylor,^[18] Pevsner.^[17]

Architectural style in cathedral buildings in Western Europe

Early Christian- Nave of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome.

From public domain photos compiled by Chuck Barth of the nave of Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. ... From public domain photos compiled by Chuck Barth of the nave of Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. ...

Early Christian

The church providing the best idea of an Early Christian cathedral is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. It has retained much of its original internal arrangement, its vast basilical proportions, its simple apsidal end, its great colonnade supporting a straight cornice rather than arches and some very early mosaic decoration. Santa Sabina, also in Rome, and the Cathedral of Aquileia are some of the few surviving examples of the simplicity of decoration that characterized many of the early Christian basilicas, as did the use of antique parts taken from Roman edifices.^[7][4][8] Saint Mary Major, in Italian, Santa Maria Maggiore, is one of the five great ancient basilicas of Rome, Italy. ... Enormous colonnade of the Kazan Cathedral in St Petersburg. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Geison. ... Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. ... Santa Sabina interior. ... Aquileia (Friulian Aquilee, Slovene Oglej) is an ancient Roman town of Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso (modern Natisone), the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times. ...

Byzantine

Ravenna, on the eastern coast of Italy, is home to several vast churches of basilica plan dating from the age of the Emperor Justinian (6th century CE). San Apollinare Nuovo is in plan similar to Santa Maria Maggiore, but the details of the carvings are no longer in the classical Roman style. The capitals are like fat lacy stone cushions. Many of the mosaics are intact. Ravenna is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... Justinian I, depicted on a contemporary coin Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus or Justinian I (May 11, 483–November 13/14, 565), was Eastern Roman Emperor from AD August 1, 527 until his death. ... SantApollinare Nuovo: The 38. ... Saint Mary Major, in Italian, Santa Maria Maggiore, is one of the five great ancient basilicas of Rome, Italy. ... Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. ...

Byzantine- St Mark's Basilica, Venice.

In the same town stands the uniquely-structured centrally-planned and domed church of San Vitale, of the same date. Its main internal space is 25 m across. The central dome is surrounded by eight apsidal semi-domes like the petals of a flower. There is a complex arrangement of curving arcades on several levels which gives a spacial effect only equalled by the Baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute built a thousand years later a few miles north in Venice. San Vitale was to be imitated in the 9th century in a simplified form by Charlemagne at Aachen, Germany. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 265 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 265 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... For the Basilica di San Marco in Rome, see Basilica di San Marco (Rome). ... Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venezsia, Latin: Venetia) is a city in northern Italy, the capital of region Veneto, and has a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). ... San Vitale is the Italian name for Saint Vitalis. ... The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St Mary of Health/Salvation), commonly known simply as the Salute, is a famous church in Venice, placed scenically at a narrow finger of land which lies between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco on the lagoon, visible... Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venezsia, Latin: Venetia) is a city in northern Italy, the capital of region Veneto, and has a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). ... San Vitale is the Italian name for Saint Vitalis. ... A portrait of Charlemagne by Albrecht Dürer that was painted several centuries after Charlemagnes death. ... Oche redirects here; in darts the oche is the line from which players must throw. ...

In Venice stands the world's best known Byzantine-style church, decorated over many centuries but maintaining its centrally-planned Byzantine form, San Marco's. It is called St Mark's Basilica, not because it is of basilical shape, but because it has been awarded that title. It has a Greek Cross plan, a large dome being surrounded by four somewhat smaller ones. Its decoration, both inside and out, is typical of the Byzantine period in its lavish use of mosaics and polychrome marble veneers.^[7][10] For the Basilica di San Marco in Rome, see Basilica di San Marco (Rome). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. ... Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. ... Venus de Milo, front. ... A veneer is a thin covering over something. ...

Romanesque- Speyer Cathedral, Germany, the gatehouse-like west front and disticnctive Rhenish Helm spires.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1704x2272, 971 KB) Speyer Dom - License: GFDL - own picture - 2005/Feb/26 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Speyer Diocese of Speyer... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1704x2272, 971 KB) Speyer Dom - License: GFDL - own picture - 2005/Feb/26 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Speyer Diocese of Speyer... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

Romanesque

After the decline of the Roman Empire, the building of large churches in Western Europe gradually gained momentum with the spread of organised monasticism under the rule of Saint Benedict and others. A huge monastery at Cluny, only a fraction of which still exists, was built using a simplified Roman style, stout columns, thick walls, small window openings and semi-circular arches. The style spread with monasticism throughout Europe. The technique of building high vaults in masonry was revived. A treatment of decoration evolved that had elements drawn from local Pre-Christian traditions and incorporated zig-zags, spirals and fierce animal heads. The typical wall decorations were painted murals. The Romanesque building techniques spread to England at about the time of the Norman conquest. Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire. ... This article is about Saint Benedict of Nursia, for other uses of the name Benedict see Benedict (disambiguation) Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. ... Cluny nowadays The town of Cluny or Clugny lies in the modern-day département of Saône-et-Loire in the région of France, near Mâcon. ... Monasticism (from Greek: monachos — a solitary person) is the religious practice in which one renounces worldly pursuits in order to devote ones life fully to spiritual work. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Salle des illustres, ceiling painting, by Jean André Rixens. ... Bayeux Tapestry depicting events leading to the Battle of Hastings The Norman Conquest of England was the conquest of the Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman control of England. ...

Representative of the period are Abbaye aux Hommes (the Abbey of the Men) in Caen, France; Worms Cathedral in Germany, the Cathedral of Pisa with its famous leaning campanile (bell tower), Modena Cathedral and the Parma Cathedral in Italy, and Durham Cathedral and Peterborough Cathedral in England.^[14][7][10] The Abbaye-aux-Hommes ( man monastery Saint Étienne) is considered together with the neighbouring woman Mrs. ... Caen (pronounced /kɑ̃/) is a commune of northwestern France. ... Worms Cathedral East facade The spacious Cathedral of St. ... This article discusses the Italian city. ... The Cathedral with the Ghirlandina. ... Aerial view of the Duomo of Parma with its belfry. ... Durham Cathedrals famous Sanctuary Knocker on the North Door Ground plan of Durham Cathedral Legend of the founding of Durham depicted on cathedral The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, which is almost always referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city... Peterborough Cathedral Plan Peterborough Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, and is very unusual amongst mediæval cathedrals in Britain because of its triple front (dominated by the statues of the three saints) and overall asymmetrical appearance. ...

Gothic

Gothic- Notre Dame de Paris, the most famous Gothic west front in the world.

By the mid 12th century many large cathedrals and abbey churches had been constructed and the engineering skills required to build high arches, stone vaults, tall towers and the like, were well established. The style evolved to one that was less heavy, had larger windows, lighter-weight vaulting supported on stone ribs and above all, the pointed arch which is the defining characteristic of the style now known as Gothic. With thinner walls, larger windows and high pointed arched vaults, the distinctive flying buttresses developed as a means of support. The huge windows were ornamented with stone tracery and filled with stained glass illustrating Bible stories for the edification of those who could not read. Download high resolution version (1786x2368, 1133 KB) Notre Dame de Paris, front view, summer 2004. ... Download high resolution version (1786x2368, 1133 KB) Notre Dame de Paris, front view, summer 2004. ... Notre Dame de Paris: Western Facade For the novel by Victor Hugo, see The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ... Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... In architecture, a flying buttress is a structural feature used to transmit the thrust of a vault across an intervening space, such as an aisle, chapel or cloister, to a buttress built outside the latter. ... Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library of Congress. ...

Buildings representative of this period include Notre Dame, Paris; Chartres Cathedral, Rouen Cathedral, Strasbourg Cathedralin France, Antwerp Cathedral in Belgium, Cologne Cathedral in Germany, St Stephen's CathedralVienna in Austria, Florence Cathedral, Siena Cathedral, Milan Cathedral in Italy, Burgos Cathedral in Spain, Salisbury Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral in England.^{[2][7][10][18]} Notre Dame de Paris: Western Facade For the novel by Victor Hugo, see The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ... The Cathedral of Chartres (Cathedral of Our Lady in Chartres, French: Cathédrale Notre_Dame de Chartres), located in Chartres, about 50 miles from Paris, is considered the finest example in all France of the high Gothic style of architecture. ... Entrance to Rouen Cathedral Rouen Cathedral, Full Sunlight, by Claude Monet, 1894 Rouen Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen) is a Gothic cathedral in Rouen, in northwestern France. ... West façade of the cathedral The Cathédrale Notre-Dame (English Our Ladys Cathedral) in Strasbourg, France belongs to the grand history of European cathedrals architectural design. ... Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (OLV-KATH), the Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp, was started in 1351 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been completed. In Gothic style, its architects were Jan and Pieter Appelmans. ... The Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom, official name: ) is one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany and has been Colognes most famous landmark since its completion in the late 19th century. ... Vienna (German: , see also other names) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Santa Maria del Fiore Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as the Duomo) is Florences cathedral, noted for its distinctive dome. ... Duomo di Siena is the medieval cathedral of Siena, Italy. ... , The Duomo di Milano from the Square. ... Burgos Cathedral The Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral. ... Salisbury Cathedral in the early morning light. ... Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. ... Lincoln Cathedral shares with Durham the most spectacular placing of any of the British cathedrals. ...

Early Renaissance- the dome of Florence Cathedral

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (859x521, 108 KB) Santa Maria del Fiore, view, Florence, Italy File from nl. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (859x521, 108 KB) Santa Maria del Fiore, view, Florence, Italy File from nl. ...

Renaissance

In the early 15th century a competition was held in Florence for a plan to roof the central crossing of the huge, unfinished Gothic Cathedral. It was won by the artist Brunelleschi who, inspired by domes that he had seen on his travels, such as that of San Vitale in Ravenna and the enormous dome of the Roman period which roofed the Pantheon, he designed a huge dome which is regarded as the first building of the Renaissance period. Its style, visually however, is ribbed and pointed and purely Gothic. It was Renaissance (a rebirth) in its audacity and the fact that it looked back to Roman structural techniques. Brunelleschi, and others like him, developed a passion for the highly refined style of Roman architecture, in which the forms and decorations followed rules of placement and proportion that had long been neglected. They sought to rediscover and apply these rules. It was a time of architectural theorising and experimentation. Brunelleschi built two large churches in Florence demonstrating how the new style could be applied, San Lorenzo's and Santo Spirito. They are essays in the Classical, with rows of cylindrical columns, Corinthian capitals, entablatures, semi-circular arches and apsidal chapels.^[19] Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446, was the first great Florentine architect of the Italian Renaissance. ... San Vitale is the Italian name for Saint Vitalis. ... Facade of the Pantheon The Pantheon (Latin Pantheon[1], from Greek Πάνθεον Pantheon, meaning Temple of all the Gods) is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets in the state religion of Ancient Rome. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446, was the first great Florentine architect of the Italian Renaissance. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... San Lorenzo is Italian and Spanish for Saint Lawrence. ...

High Renaissance- St. Peter's Basilica with Maderno's facade and Michelangelo's Dome.

The greatest cathedral building of the age was the rebuilding of St Peter's Basilica in Rome, the combined work of the architects Bramante, Raphael, Sangallo, Maderno and surmounted by Michelangelo's glorious dome, taller but just one foot narrower than the one that Brunelleschi had built a hundred years earlier in Florence. The dome is both an external and an internal focus. The chancel and transept arms are identical in shape, thus recalling the Greek Cross plan of Byzantine churches. The nave was, in fact, an addition. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 578 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 578 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... This article is about the famous building in Rome. ... Donato Bramante Donato Bramante (1444 - March 11, 1514), Italian architect, who introduced the Early Renaissance style to Milan and the High Renaissance style to Rome, where his most famous design was St. ... Raphael Sanzio or Raffaello (April 6, 1483 – April 6, 1520) was an Italian master painter and architect of the Florentine school in High Renaissance, celebrated for the perfection and grace of his paintings. ... Portrait by Piero di Cosimo, c. ... Façade of St. ... Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (March 6, 1475 – February 18, 1564), commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer. ... Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ...

Pope Julius II could command the greatest artists of his day as designers. (The role of architect had not yet become a separate one from painter, sculptor or builder.) The product of these many minds is a massive, glorious and unified whole.^[20][7][4] Pope Julius II (December 5, 1443 – February 21, 1513), born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513. ...

Baroque

Baroque, St Paul's Cathedral, London, uses a motif of paired columns to create dynamic interplay of spaces.

By the time that St Peter's was completed, a style of architecture was developed by architects who knew all the rules that had been so carefully recovered, and chose to break them. The effect was a dynamic style of architecture in which the forms seem to take on life of their own, moving, swaying and undulating. The name baroque means 'mis-shapen pearl'. Image File history File links London_St. ... Image File history File links London_St. ... This article is about the cathedral church of the diocese of London. ... Adoration, by Peter Paul Rubens. ...

There are many large churches built in this style, but few cathedrals in Western Europe, the notable exceptions being St Paul's Cathedral in London and the Abbey of St Gall (now a cathedral) in Switzerland. Many cathedrals have baroque features, high altars, facades and chapels. The facades of Santiago de Compostela, Jaen Cathedral and Valladolid Cathedral in Spain was rebuilt at this time. This article is about the cathedral church of the diocese of London. ... The Abbey of St. ... Location map of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia Santiago de Compostela (also Saint James of Compostela) is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia. ...

St Paul's is an unusual cathedral in that is was designed by a single individual and completed in a short time. The architect was Sir Christopher Wren and the building replaced the ancient cathedral which burnt down in the Great Fire of 1666. It is in the Baroque style, but it is a very controlled and English sort of Baroque in which Wren creates surprising and dramatic spacial effects, particularly in his use of the dome, which, like Brunelleschi's dome in Florence, spans not only the nave but also the aisles, opening the whole centre of the church into a vast light space.^[18][21][17] Christopher Wren. ... This is a list of historic fires. ... Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446, was the first great Florentine architect of the Italian Renaissance. ...

Revivals

Revival styles were not always Gothic. Westminster Cathedral is Byzantine.

The 18th and 19th centuries were a time of expansion and colonisation by Western Europeans. It was also a time of much Christian revival and in England, a considerable growth in the Roman Catholic Church. There was also much industrialisation and the growth of towns. New churches and cathedrals were needed. The Medieval styles, and particularly Gothic, were seen as the most suitable for the building of new cathedrals, both in Europe and in the colonies. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1296x972, 1076 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Neo-Byzantine architecture ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1296x972, 1076 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Neo-Byzantine architecture ... For the historic phenomenon of colonization and imperialism, see main article colonialism (and also decolonization). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church...

Cathedrals in the Gothic Revival style include Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in England, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York and St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne in Australia. Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster, London: Gothic details provided by A.W.N. Pugin The Gothic Revival was an architectural movement which originated in mid-18th century England. ... North elevation of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. ... The Cathedral of St. ... St Patricks Cathedral, Melbourne St Patricks Cathedral, Melbourne, is the cathedral church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, currently His Grace, Archbishop Denis Hart. ...

Not all of the cathedrals that are in a revivalist style are Gothic. Westminster Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, is an eclectic design of predominantly Byzantine style with polychrome walls, domes and a very tall Italian-style campanile. Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in Canada is a Renaissance revival building based on St Peter's, Rome.^[18][7] Westminster Cathedral from Victoria Street The interior of Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral is the motherchurch of the Roman Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Westminster and the metropolitan church of the Westminster Province, located at 42 Francis Street SW1 in the City of Westminster in London, England. ... The standard of the Archbishop of Westminster The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, England. ... Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. ... A campanile (pronounced []) is, especially in Italy, a free-standing bell tower (Italian campana, bell), often adjacent to a church or cathedral. ... The Cathedral-Basilica of Mary, Queen of the World (French: Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Montreal. ... Château de Ferrières 1855 Mentmore Towers English Neo-Renaissance of the 1850s. ...

Modern- Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, by Sir Frederick Gibberd, 1967

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1134, 247 KB) South elevation of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, designed by Giles Frederick Gibberd. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1134, 247 KB) South elevation of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, designed by Giles Frederick Gibberd. ... Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral steps The south elevation and main entrance to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, a Roman Catholic cathedral in Liverpool, has the official name of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. ... Frederick Gibberd (1908-1984) was a British architect. ...

Modern

In the 20th century building in the Medieval style continued, but in a stripped-down, cleanly functional form, often in brick. A fine example is Guildford Cathedral in England. Another is Armidale Cathedral in Australia. Guildford Cathedral claims to be the only cathedral to be built on a new site in the southern Province of England since the Reformation. Guildford was made a diocese in its own right in 1927, and work on its new cathedral, designed by Sir Edward Maufe, began nine years later. ... Armidale (population 28,000) is a university and cathedral city in northern New South Wales, Australia, in Armidale Dumaresq Council. ...

After World War II traditionalist ideas were abandoned for the rebuilding of the bombed cathedral in Coventry. The old cathedral was actually a large parish church that had been elevated to cathedral status. Its glorious spire fortunately escaped severe damage. The new Coventry Cathedral, of alternating slabs of masonry and stained glass attempts to capture symbolically the sense of an old cathedral church, without attempting to reproduce it. Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is the 20th century's answer to the centrally-planned church, a vast circular structure with the sanctuary at the centre.^[18]
Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A parish church is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches. ... The roofless ruins of the old cathedral. ... Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral steps The south elevation and main entrance to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, a Roman Catholic cathedral in Liverpool, has the official name of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. ...

Regional examples

Note- The lists which follow aim to give, in point form, those characteristics of each selected example which typify the architecture of the region. This section does not aim to give a detailed description of each building.

Each list deals with plan, eastern end, crossing, emphasis, special features, sunlight and shadow, decoration, narrative features and things that make the building distinct from those of another region. For more detail, look up the particular building on List of Cathedrals. The method of comparison used here is based upon the descriptions of regional "architectural character" as described by Banister Fletcher.^[7] This is a list of cathedrals around the world, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ... The Gillette Factory on the Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. ...

The Cathedral of Pisa, with its Baptistry and famous Bell Tower, showing the cruciform plan, apsidal ends, decorative arcading and oval dome.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (6221x1477, 1466 KB) Summary Pisa, Italy : Campo dei Miracoli - panoramic view Own work - photo made by Georges Jansoone on 10 October 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Campo dei Miracoli ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (6221x1477, 1466 KB) Summary Pisa, Italy : Campo dei Miracoli - panoramic view Own work - photo made by Georges Jansoone on 10 October 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Campo dei Miracoli ...

Italy

The Cathedral or Duomo of Pisa with the complex of buildings that surrounds it in the Campo dei Miracoli is the epitome of the Italian Cathedral. It is a building of the Romanesque Style, built mostly between 1063 and 1092 with some Gothic additions. Many of the features that characterise this building as Italian continued to be employed right through to the Baroque period. Sir Banister Fletcher describes this cathedral as "one of the finest of the Romanesque period" with "marked individuality" and "beauty and delicacy of ornamental features".^[7] The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is a wide, walled area at the heart of the city of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy (, ), recognized as one of the main centers for Mediaeval art in the world. ... The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is a wide, walled area at the heart of the city of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, recognized as one of the main centers for medieval art in the world. ... The Gillette Factory on the Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. ...

Note- This list presents a brief analysis of regional characteristics found in the particular building.^[7] For a complete description follow the link to the web page.

• The plan is a simple well-defined Latin cross.
• The eastern end of the building and the terminals of the transept have semi-circular apses with no surrounding ambulatory.
• The crossing is surmounted by a dome which is unusual in being oval, thus prefiguring the flexible use of architectural form of the Baroque period.
• The various parts of the building are well defined by projection and delineation. The ornamentation serves to define separate architectural units, rather than to merge them, eg the vertical stages are separated by horizontal courses, the horizontal bays are defined externally by attached shafts, internally the arcade is separated from the clerestorey level by a cornice.
• Various functions of the cathedral are isolated in separate buildings. The Baptistry is an enormous free-standing building with a central space surrounded by a two-storey gallery. The famous free-standing Campanile demonstrates why this was often the case in Italy- the soft soil of river valleys and frequency of earth movement causes subsidence.
• The arcade is the dominant decorative feature, running in bands around the cathedral, the baptistry and, most notably, the campanile where it defines each of the eight levels. In the bright sunlight and high sun angle of southern Europe, the effect is to cast horizontal definition across the surface of the building.
• Architectural details draw upon the Roman art, with capitals of a Corinthian type.
• Polychrome decoration in stripes of white marble alternating with green, grey or red gives a richness to the surface of the building.
• The media used for figurative story-telling includes mosaic, sculpture in defined rectangular panels such as the sides of an octacgonal marble pulpit and the panels of the bronze doors.

Section references: Banister Fletcher,^[7] Larousse.^[10] For the 2001 film, see Storytelling (film) Storytelling is the ancient art of conveying events in words, images, and sounds. ...

Examples of Cathedrals in Italy:

Cathedral of Palermo

Cathedral of Florence

Duomo di Modena

Duomo di Siena

See also List of Cathedrals in Italy
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 341 KB) Author : Urban Description : Cathedral of Palermo, Sicilia Body : Canon Powershot A80 Date : August, 2005 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western... The dome and part of the apse of the Cathedral of Palermo. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 692 KB) Summary Facade of the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore; Florence, Italy Own photo - photo taken by Georges Jansoone on 12 October 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Santa Maria del Fiore Metadata This... Santa Maria del Fiore Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as the Duomo) is Florences cathedral, noted for its distinctive dome. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1109x1507, 788 KB) G.C. Argan, Storia dellArte, 1981 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Cathedral with the Ghirlandina. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x757, 228 KB) Photographer: rdesai Title: Duomo in Siena Taken on: 2004-09-18 07:01:29 Original source: Flickr. ... Duomo di Siena is the medieval cathedral of Siena, Italy. ... This is a list of cathedrals around the world, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ...

France

Amiens Cathedral is a Gothic building, 1220-1288, which typifies the cathedrals of northern France. Wim Swaan writes "In the nave of Amiens, Gothic structure and the treatment of the classic, three-stage interior elevation established at Chartres, achieved perfection."^[2] The cathedral in Amiens Close-up of a stained glass window The Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame dAmiens), or just Amiens Cathedral, is the tallest complete cathedral in France with the greatest interior volume, estimated at 200,000 m³. The vaults of the...

Note- This list presents a brief analysis of regional characteristics found in the particular building.^[7] For a complete description follow the link to the web page.

Amiens Cathedral showing the three portals and rose window.

• The plan is cruciform but the transepts do not project beyond the aisles, giving the church a compact appearance.
• The eastern end of the building has an apse surrounded by a cluster of lower radiating chapels called a chevet.
• There is an emphasis on verticality. The vault is supported by flying buttresses.
• The crossing is surmounted by a delicate open-work spire called a fleche.
• The various parts of the building are united by architectural features and decoration which emphasise a verticality of design, eg there are shafts attached to the columns which commence at the floor and carry upwards through all the vertical stages (arcade, triforium and clerestory) to become the ribs of the vault.
• The West Front is a very significant feature having three enormous decorated portals, two towers and a rose window. There is an abitrary quality about the proportions and the towers are of different heights.
• The façade is divided by vertical buttresses and horizontal courses into a grid of decoration which causes the shadow to fall both vertically and horizontally.
• The dominant decorative feature is the lace-like stonework which screens the front, decorates the parapets and fills the windows with tracery. The flying buttresses and their pinnacles form a structural lacework which surrounds the exterior.
• The media used for story-telling are the stained-glass windows and the architectural statuary that surrounds the doors and fills the stone screens of the facade.

Section references: Banister Fletcher,^[7] Larousse,^[10] Swaan.^[2] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x800, 166 KB) Cathedral of Amiens Source: flickr License: cc-by-sa Photographer: cavorite Date: June 5, 2004 File links The following pages link to this file: Amiens Cathedral Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x800, 166 KB) Cathedral of Amiens Source: flickr License: cc-by-sa Photographer: cavorite Date: June 5, 2004 File links The following pages link to this file: Amiens Cathedral Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera...

Examples of Cathedrals in France:

Laon Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral

Reims Cathedral

Rouen Cathedral

See also List of cathedrals in France
Image File history File links Laon2. ... Exterior of the cathedral The cathedral of Notre-Dame of Laon is one of the most important examples of the Gothic architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries, ranking with the cathedrals of Saint-Étienne of Sens and Notre Dame of Paris. ... Download high resolution version (589x886, 75 KB)Cathedral of Chartres, western spires File links The following pages link to this file: 1260 Cathedral of Chartres Categories: User-created public domain images ... The Cathedral of Chartres (Cathedral of Our Lady in Chartres, French: Cathédrale Notre_Dame de Chartres), located in Chartres, about 50 miles from Paris, is considered the finest example in all France of the high Gothic style of architecture. ... Download high resolution version (1704x2272, 1379 KB)Reims cathedral (created by Stephen Bruce on Nov. ... Façade of the Notre-Dame de Reims The Notre-Dame de Reims (Our Lady of Rheims) is the Cathedral of Reims, where the kings of France were once crowned. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 618 KB) The entrance to Rouen Cathedral I attest that I am the copyright holder for this image and I release it for use under the Creative Commons 2. ... Entrance to Rouen Cathedral Rouen Cathedral, Full Sunlight, by Claude Monet, 1894 Rouen Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen) is a Gothic cathedral in Rouen, in northwestern France. ... This is a list of cathedrals in France, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ...

England

Lincoln Cathedral is typically English in both style and diversity having been commenced in 1074 and not reaching its final state until the 1540s. Alec Clifton-Taylor described it as: "Probably, all things considered, the finest of English Cathedrals".^[18] Lincoln Cathedral shares with Durham the most spectacular placing of any of the British cathedrals. ...

Note- This list presents a brief analysis of regional characteristics found in the particular building.^[7] For a complete description follow the link to the web page.

Lincoln Cathedral showing Norman portals, Gothic screen and towers in two stages.

• The plan is a double cross with a large boldly projecting transept and a secondary transept with apsidal chapels towards the eastern end. It has a separate cloister and a decagonal chapter house with enormous flying buttresses.
• The eastern end is square and is filled by an enormous Gothic window with Geometric tracery.
• Internally, there is an emphasis upon length and horizontality. The vertical divisions of arcade, triforium and clerestorey are defined by stong horizontal courses. There is a very heavy ridge-rib which runs the length of the Gothic vaulting, carrying the eye along the nave.
• The crossing of the large transept is surmounted by a 270 ft tower, which for three hundred years supported a spire.
• The West Front has a sense of disharmonious grandeur, its gable and two tall towers rising in two building stages, Norman and Gothic, behind a vast Gothic screen with niches for hundreds of statues, which terminates in two polygonal pinnacles, each large enough to make a sizable church tower. At the centre three enormous arches frame the windows and the Norman portal.
• The towers have a very strong vertical emphasis with massive polygonal buttress which cast vertical shadows in the slanting sun. The deeply recessed archways have the same effect, while the sculpture screen is opposingly horizontal.
• The dominant decorative features internally are the contrast of the dark marble mouldings and ribs against the pale masonry, the regular repetition of arcading and the multiplicity of rib vaults. The effect of regular repetition of simple forms is seen externally on the screen and in the arrangement of windows.
• The media used for story telling were the stained-glass windows and the carvings. Unfortunately, these have been devastated during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Section references: Banister Fletcher,^[7] Larousse,^[10] Clifton-Taylor.^[18] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 345 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 345 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... A chapter house is a building or room attached to a cathedral or collegiate church in which meetings are held. ... A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. ... dissolution see Dissolution. ...

Examples of Cathedrals in the United Kingdom:

Durham Cathedral

Norwich Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral

York Minster

See also List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
Image File history File links Fullingmill. ... Durham Cathedrals famous Sanctuary Knocker on the North Door Ground plan of Durham Cathedral Legend of the founding of Durham depicted on cathedral The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, which is almost always referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 956 KB) Summary Photographed by J-wiki Licensing This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License v. ... Norwich Cathedral: Spire and south transcept. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3200x2400, 1040 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: United Kingdom Canterbury Cathedral ... Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. ... York Minster File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe and is situated in the city of York in Northern England. ... A list of the cathedrals, former cathedrals and intended cathedrals in the United Kingdom and its dependencies. ...

Germany

Worms Cathedral dates from 1110 to 1181. With the Cathedrals of Speyer and Mainz it represents a pinnacle of German Romanesque and has spacial qualities and what Banister Fletcher describes as "a picturesque character" which were later skilfully adapted in the many German Baroque churches.^[7] Worms Cathedral East facade The spacious Cathedral of St. ... The Gillette Factory on the Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. ...

Note- This list presents a brief analysis of regional characteristics found in the particular building.^[7] For a complete description follow the link to the web page.

Worms Cathedral showing contrasting forms.

• The plan is that of a modified Latin cross with slight projection of the transept. The entrance is through a southern porch.
• The eastern end has an apse, without ambulatory, and the western end has second lower apse, typical of German Romanesque and possibly derived from a free-standing baptistry.
• Above the crossing and at the western end are short octagonal towers. There are two taller towers flanking the building at either end. Each has a steeply pointed roof, either conical or octagonal.
• The various sections of the building are massive, clearly-defined units, neatly assembled into a harmonious whole as if built from a child's set of building blocks. There is the sense that the building could be disassembled and rearranged. The massing together of the various parts emphasises the geometric three-dimensionality of each part.
• The entrance is an ornate Gothic porch, sandwiched between two chapels in a way that emphasises the integrity of each unit. There is no west front, no facade. The building requires looking at as a three dimensional object.
• The sunlight falls over surfaces that are alternately broad and flat or circular. The details are minimal and the structure of the building is emphasised rather than its features.
• Externally, it is very simply decorated by flat pilasters and several courses of judiciously-placed blind arcading in the manner of Pisa. Internally space and clarity take precedence over decoration, with the exception of the altarpiece.
• The media used for story-telling here is the riotous Baroque altarpiece which bursts out of the eastern apse with swathes and cherubs and statues.

Section references: Banister Fletcher,^[7] Larousse,^[10] Toman.^[14] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2112x2816, 1255 KB) Description: Germany Rhineland-Palatinate Worms Doom Date: 2005-05-27 photographer: Heidas Wikipedia account All pictures Please use this discussion page See also: b, c File links The following pages link to this file: Worms, Germany Rhine Neckar... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2112x2816, 1255 KB) Description: Germany Rhineland-Palatinate Worms Doom Date: 2005-05-27 photographer: Heidas Wikipedia account All pictures Please use this discussion page See also: b, c File links The following pages link to this file: Worms, Germany Rhine Neckar...

Examples of Cathedrals in Germany:

Aachen Cathedral

Hildesheim Cathedral

Lübeck Cathedral

Regensburg Cathedral

See also List of cathedrals in Germany
1881 Young Folks Cyclopedia of Persons and Places The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Aachen Cathedral The Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the Imperial Cathedral (in German: Kaiserdom) of Aachen, is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 452 KB) Description: Hildesheim, Dom (Cathedral), South tower Photographer: Longbow4u, photo taken myself, 02. ... ▶ (help· info) is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (768x1024, 145 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Lübeck Cathedral Wikipedia:Recent additions 56 Metadata This file contains additional information... This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x1333, 445 KB) Photograph of Regensburg Cathedral St. ... The Regensburg Cathedral (German: ), dedicated to St Peter, is the most important church of the city of Regensburg, and cathedral of the Diocese of Regensburg. ... This is a list of cathedrals around the world, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ...

Spain

Burgos Cathedral, commenced in 1221, represents many of the characteristics and is described by Banister Fletcher as "the most poetic of Spanish cathedrals."^[7] Burgos Cathedral The Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral. ...

Note- This list presents a brief analysis of regional characteristics found in the particular building.^[7] For a complete description follow the link to the web page.

The west front of the Burgos Cathedral showing the contrast of plain and decorated surfaces.

• Its ground plan is a Latin cross, with comparatively wide transept. But the plan is made complex and is visually disguised from the exterior by the accretion of numerous side chapels which cluster around it at different angles, and the abutment of the large Bishop's Palace to the south.
• The eastern end is apsidal with a chevet in the French manner. Several chapels surround the chevet, including the very large Capilla del Condestable.
• Internally, the building is marked by the breadth of the nave and the openness of its structure. Flat, plain, broad surfaces alternate with those that are richly and diversely decorated.
• The internal arrangement is typical of a Spanish cathedral in that the Quire is placed to the west of the crossing. Above the crossing is a richly decorated lantern tower.
• Externally, the various parts of the building cannot be seen together, except at a distance, from which the massive spires, lantern tower and pinnacles of the Capilla del Condestable combine to make a silhouette of great richness.
• The West Front is modeled on those of Northern France, but differs in the contrast of areas of plain and decorated surfaces. The twin towers of massive proportion, strongly defined buttresses and rich ornament carry spires of open lacework similar to those of Cologne Cathedral, but not as tall. There are two further facades, one at each transept end, each with a richly sculptured doorway.
• The decoration is of great diversity incorporating elements of French Gothic and German Gothic with earlier semi-circular Romanesque forms, Moorish motifs and in the arch of the central door, a Renaissance pediment. A remarkable feature is the placement of two very large screens which resemble traceried window openings, one of three bays at the south transept front and another of two between the western towers.
• A wealth of architectural and free-standing sculpture, paintings and stained-glass serve to inform the story of the faith.

Section references: Banister Fletcher,^[7] Larousse.^[10] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (960x1280, 536 KB) Photo taken by Juan García at 2005-05-30 of the Burgos Cathedral at Burgos, Spain. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (960x1280, 536 KB) Photo taken by Juan García at 2005-05-30 of the Burgos Cathedral at Burgos, Spain. ...

Examples of Cathedrals in Spain:

Toledo Cathedral

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Segovia Cathedral Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (600 × 800 pixel, file size: 138 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Die Kathedrale von Toledo, Spanien. ... Façade of the Cathedral of Toledo The Cathedral of Toledo is one of the three 13th century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered to be the magnum opus of the Gothic style in Spain. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 117 KB)This is an Original work by Wikipedia editor. I took this picture of the obradoiro façade in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain in autumn of 2003. ... The Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: an all-but-Gothic composition generated entirely of classical details Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is situated in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x719, 742 KB) auteur :djkmart There are no usage restrictions for this photo. ... Location Location of Segovia in Spain Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Segovia (Spanish) Spanish name Segovia Postal code 40001-40006 Website http://www. ...

The incomplete Sagrada Família in Barcelona Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1001x1500, 313 KB) Description: Sagrada Familia Auteur: Arnaud Gaillard (arnaud () amarys. ... For the Alan Parsons Project song, see La Sagrada Familia (song). ...

See also List of cathedrals in Spain
This is a list of cathedrals around the world, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ...

Summary of characteristics

• Italian cathedrals - Polychrome, defined forms, symmetric plan, domed crossing, free-standing towers
• French cathedrals - Vertical, unified appearance, compact plan, delicate spire called flèche at crossing, two towers at west front and sometimes transept fronts.
• English catherals - Horizontal, diverse styles, extending plan, large crossing tower perhaps with spire, two towers at front
• German cathedrals - Massive, block-like, broad plan, octagonal cupola at crossing, multi-towered, one or two tall spires in Gothic period
• Spanish cathedrals - Spacious, ornate, complex plan, diverse roofline, two towers at west front

Note This summary does not preclude the diversity which occurred at different dates for a variety of reasons. One of the influences on diversity of style was the immigration of master masons who often served as architects. Thus William of Sens set the style of Canterbury, and Milan Cathedral is predominantly German Gothic in style.
View of Notre Dame showing its flèche A flèche (from the French for arrow) is used in French architecture to refer to a spire and in English to refer to a lead-covered timber spire. ... Cupola of St Peters Basilica, Rome In architecture, a cupola consists of a dome-shaped ornamental structure located on top of a larger roof or dome, often used as a lookout or to admit light and provide ventilation. ... William of Sens was a Twelfth century French architect, supposed to have been born at Sens. ... , The Duomo di Milano from the Square. ...

Cathedrals of other countries of Western Europe

with summary of regional characteristics

St Stephen's, Vienna, Austria

Tournai Cathedral, Belgium

Roskilde Cathedral Denmark

's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

• Stephan’s Dom, Austria, 1147-1557– The cathedral has a huge expanse of steep, roof with decorative brightly-coloured tiles, Flamboyant tracery, an asymmetrically placed tower and an open-work spire of German style.^[7]
• Tournai Cathedral, Belgium, 1100-1255- The building is a combination of massing of Romanesque forms and multiple towers in the German style with French-style chancel and chevet. The architecture of this building was widely influential.^[7]
• Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark, c.1150-1300- The combination of simple unadorned brick architecture with copper spires of fanciful and delicate design is typically Danish.^[14]
• 's-Hertogenbosch Cathedral, Netherlands, c.1220-1584- The massive forms, widespread and braced with huge buttresses, the Dutch gable of the transept and distinctive treatment of tracery in the central lantern tower and the heavily carved rectilinear panelling of the internal walls and gallery are typical of Holland.^[7]

Nidaros Cathedral, Norway

Lisboa Cathedral, Portugal

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

Cobh Cathedral, Republic of Ireland

• Nidaros Cathedral, Norway, 1070-1300- Norwegian Medieval architecture was strongly influenced by journeymen English builders who have designed the western part of this building along the lines of Lincoln Cathedral which it strongly resembles. The long sloping roof and tall wood and copper spire is typical of Norway.^[14]
• Lisbon Cathedral, Portugal, 1147-1500, 1755-20th century- The fortress-like quality, cavernous single doorway, pointed battlements and highly functional appearance of this cathedral is typical of the Romanesque architecture that prevailed, despite acknowledgement to the Gothic style.^[22]
• Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, 1038-1300, 19th century- A building very similar in its Early English Gothic style to the English cathedrals of Southwark and Ripon. The stepped-gables of the battlements are a regional decorative detail.^[7]
• Cobh Cathedral, Ireland, 1868-1915- Architect, Edward.W.Pugin and others. An exquisitely detailed essay into the Gothic Revival style which marked a resurgence of Roman Catholicism throughout the British Isles.^[23]

St Mungo's Cathedral, Glasgow Scotland

Lund Cathedral, Sweden

St Gallen Cathedral, Switzerland

Bangor Cathedral, Wales

• St Mungo’s, Glasgow, Scotland, 13th century- Built on the site where the bullock stopped the wagon with the body of the saint, this 13th century building is marked by the proportionally large size of its windows and the single central tower which was once shared by other cathedrals and abbeys of Scotland.^[7]
• Lund Cathedral, Sweden, 1060-1250- This important example of Romanesque architecture is marked by its adherence to the Italian Latin cross plan with simple apse. The massive western towers with their wooden spires are typical of Romanesque throughout Northern Europe.^[14]
• St Gallen Cathedral, Switzerland, 1755-1768- Architect, Peter Thumb. Superficially this monastic building presents a standard West Front with twin towers framing a gabled end. But this is a Baroque Cathedral. The towers are framing the apsidal eastern end in the manner of a German Romanesque church. Every detail has a curving playful quality typical of the Baroque style which spread throughout central and eastern Europe.^[24]
• Bangor Cathedral, Wales, c.1120-c.1880- Typical of the cathedrals of Britain, this small cathedral demonstrates its long history in its architecture, with no attempt to match the successive styles to each other. Early and late Gothic, Gothic Revival and 20th century sit side by side in a single building.^[25]

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1944x2592, 2234 KB) de: Stephansdom, Wien en: Stephansdom (St Stephen Cathedral), Vienna es: Stephansdom (Catedral San Esteban), Viena fr: Stephansdom (Cathédrale St Étienne), Vienna Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Stephansdom ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2381x1142, 967 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Tournai Cathedral ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (800x604, 94 KB) Roskilde Domkirke set fra nord File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture of Western Europe Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 752 KB) Summary Own Photo Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... // The Stephansdom (Cathedral of Saint Stephen), in Vienna, Austria, is the seat of a Roman Catholic Archbishop, a beloved symbol of Vienna, and the site of many important events in Austrias national life. ... Tournai Cathedral Notre-Dame Cathedral of Tournai is one of the most important architectural monuments in Belgium. ... Roskilde Cathedral Roskilde Cathedral (Danish: Roskilde Domkirke), in the city of Roskilde on the Island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark was the first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick and its construction encouraged the spread of this Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe. ... Exterior of the St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (771x1032, 1380 KB) Beskrivelse Nidarosdomen cathedral in wintertime. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Se_de_Lisboa_Frente. ... new image of Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin - my image taken tonight, no copyright This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1944x2592, 943 KB) Cathedral of St Colman in Cobh Ireland slight fog can be seen. ... Picture of the Nidaros Cathedral in 1857. ... Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa or Sé de Lisboa is the cathedral of Lisbon and the oldest church in the city. ... Christ Church Cathedral (exterior) Christ Church Cathedral (The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity) in Dublin is the elder of the citys two mediæval cathedrals, the other being St. ... Cathedral of St. ... Edward Welby Pugin (1834-1875) was the eldest son of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, a famous architect & designer of Gothic architecture. ... Location of the British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands off the north west coast of continental Europe comprising Great Britain, Ireland and a number of smaller islands. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 88 KB)photo by David Wyatt from http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1920x1308, 611 KB) Lunds domkyrka from higher altitude, taken with digital zoom Date: 2005-02-14 Author: Väsk File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedral architecture... Image File history File links Convent_of_St_Gall. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1087x774, 321 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Bangor, Wales ... Glasgow Cathedral Glasgow Cathedral is a Church of Scotland cathedral in Glasgow. ... Lund Cathedral Byggnaden The Lund Cathedral, or Lunds Domkyrka, is a cathedral in Lund, Sweden. ... The Abbey of St. ... Bangor Cathedral from Bangor Mountain Bangor Cathedral is a place of Christian worship situated in Bangor in North Wales in the United Kingdom. ...

See also

St. Andrew's Cathedral, St. Andrews, Scotland

• List of cathedrals
• Christianity
• Poor Man's Bible

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... See St Andrews, New South Wales for St Andrews, Sydney, Australia. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic)1 Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II... This is a list of cathedrals around the world, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... The term Poor Mans Bible has come into use in modern times to describe works of art within churches and cathedrals which either individually or collectively have been created to illustrate the teachings of the Bible for a largely illiterate population. ...

Architectural styles

• Early Christian art and architecture
• Byzantine Architecture
• Romanesque Architecture
• Gothic Architecture
• Renaissance architecture
• Baroque Architecture
• Victorian Architecture

The Good Shepherd: Early Christian catacomb art Early Christian art and architecture is the art produced by Christians or under Christian patronage from about the year 200 to about the year 500. ... Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Interior of Cologne Cathedral Gothic architecture is a style of architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, which flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period. ... Tempietto di San Pietro in Montorio, Rome, 1502, by Bramante. ... Baroque architecture, starting in the early 17th century in Italy, took the humanist Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical, theatrical, sculptural fashion, expressing the triumph of absolutist church and state. ... Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The Carson Mansion is an example of a Victorian home in Eureka, California, USA The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ...

Architectural features

• Cathedral Architecture - Development of the Eastern End in England and France
• Cathedral Architecture - Development and diversity of towers in Western Europe
• Cathedral diagram, with descriptions of: nave, aisle, quire/choir, apse, chevet, Lady Chapel, porch
• Triforium
• Clerestory
• Vault

The interior of Coutances Cathedral, photography by Eric Pouhier The larger medieval churches of France and England, the cathedrals and abbeys, have much in common architecturally, an east/west orientation, an external emphasis on the west front and its doors, long arcaded interiors, high vaulted roofs and windows filled with... The towers, spires and domes of cathedrals and churches were, until the twentieth century and often remain, the dominant skyline feature of the European town. ... Amiens floorplan: massive piers support the west end towers; transepts are abbreviated; seven radiating chapels form the chevet reached from the ambulatory This article discusses cathedral diagrams. ... Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... In a modern church an aisle is a row down the middle of the church with a set of pews on each side. ... The choir stalls in the quire of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England A quire is the area of a church where the choir sits, also known as the choir. ... The word choir can refer to: Choir, an ensemble of singers Quire, the area between the nave and sanctuary in a church or cathedral The Choir, a rock band Angelic choir, an angelology term which refers to a specific grouping of angels within the angelic hierarchy Additional note In orchestras... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... The chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and attached to churches of large size. ... A covered porch. ... Triforium is an architectural term. ... Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire, England. ... The Lierne vault of the Liebfrauenkirche, Mühlacker 1482. ...

Decorative features

• Stained glass
• Stained glass - British glass, 1811-1918

• Gargoyle
• Grotesque
• Labours of the Months

Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ... In early 19th century Britain, beginning with an armorial window created by Willement in 1811, there was a revival of the art and craft of stained glass window manufacture. ... A gargoyle adorning the Dornoch Cathedral in Dornoch, Scotland. ... Mother Nature is surrounded by grottesche in this fresco detail from Villa dEste When commonly used in conversation, grotesque means strange, fantastic, ugly or bizarre, and thus is often used to describe weird shapes and distorted forms such as Halloween masks or gargoyles on churches. ... The term Labours of the Months refers to cycles seen in Medieval and early Renaissance art depicting in twelve scenes the rural activities that commonly took place in the months of the year. ...

References

Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(c. ... The Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: an all-but-Gothic composition generated entirely of classical details Santiago de Compostela (2003 pop. ... Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. ... The Gillette Factory on the Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. ... Wystan Hugh Auden (21 February 1907 – 29 September 1973) (IPA: ; first syllable of Auden rhymes with law), who signed his works W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet, regarded by many as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. ... The Gillette Factory on the Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex. ... Helen Gardner (1909-1986) was an English literary critic. ... Sir Nikolaus Pevsner CBE (January 30, 1902 – August 18, 1983) was a German-born British historian of art and, especially, architecture. ... Sir John Newenham Summerson (1904-1992) was one of the leading British architectural historians of the 20th century. ...

External links

Byzantine

• St Mark's Basilica - [7]

For the Basilica di San Marco in Rome, see Basilica di San Marco (Rome). ...

Romanesque cathedrals

• Speyer Cathedral - [8]
• Pisa Cathedral and Leaning Tower of Pisa - [9]
• Durham Cathedral - [10]
• Romanesque Cathedrals of Puglia (Southern Italy)

This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Durham Cathedrals famous Sanctuary Knocker on the North Door Ground plan of Durham Cathedral Legend of the founding of Durham depicted on cathedral The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, which is almost always referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city...

Early Gothic Cathedrals from late 12th to mid 13th centuries

• Canterbury Cathedral - [11]
• Notre Dame de Paris - [12]
• Westminster Abbey - [13]
• Chartres Cathedral - [14]
• Lincoln Cathedral - [15]
• St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin - [16]

Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. ... Notre Dame de Paris: Western Facade For the novel by Victor Hugo, see The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ... The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often mistaken for one), in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... The Cathedral of Chartres (Cathedral of Our Lady in Chartres, French: Cathédrale Notre_Dame de Chartres), located in Chartres, about 50 miles from Paris, is considered the finest example in all France of the high Gothic style of architecture. ... Lincoln Cathedral shares with Durham the most spectacular placing of any of the British cathedrals. ... St. ...

Gothic Cathedrals from mid 13th to 16th centuries

• Florence Cathedral - [17]
• St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral, Brussels - [18]
• St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna - [19]
• Cologne Cathedral - [20]
• St. Giles' Cathedral Edinburgh - [21]
• Toledo Cathedral - [22]
• Amiens Cathedral - [23]
• Worcester Cathedral - [24]

Santa Maria del Fiore Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as the Duomo) is Florences cathedral, noted for its distinctive dome. ... St. ... // St. ... The Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom, official name: ) is one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany and has been Colognes most famous landmark since its completion in the late 19th century. ... St. ... The façade of Toledo cathedral The Cathedral of Toledo is one of the three 13th century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain. ... The cathedral in Amiens Close-up of a stained glass window The Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame dAmiens), or just Amiens Cathedral, is the tallest complete cathedral in France with the greatest interior volume, estimated at 200,000 m³. The vaults of the... A plan of Worcester Cathedral made in 1836. ...

Renaissance

• St. Peter's Basilica, Rome - [25]

This article is about the famous building in Rome. ...

Baroque Cathedral

• St Paul's Cathedral, London - [26]

St Pauls Cathedral from the south St Pauls Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. ...

19th century

• Westminster Cathedral - [27]
• Cathedral of Saint John the Divine New York - [28]

Westminster Cathedral from Victoria Street The interior of Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral is the motherchurch of the Roman Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Westminster and the metropolitan church of the Westminster Province, located at 42 Francis Street SW1 in the City of Westminster in London, England. ... The Cathedral of St. ...

20th century

• Guildford Cathedral - [29]
• Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral - [30]