Before Constantine (30-313)

Worship in House Churches
& at tombs of martyrs

Little archeological or literary evidence on architecture or plan

Dura Europa (see diagram in Introduction)

Roman Church (313-c. 600)

Two major building types:
Basilica (long hall borrowed from existing Roman form)
Central Plan Church

At Eucharist: Celebrant (Bishop) faced people surrounded by elders (priests)

Ceremonial gradually increases in keeping with the dignity of an imperial religion

Word preached and proclaimed from central Ambo

Baptisteries were separate adjoining buildings

Dark Ages (600-1000)

Little development in Architectural Style or Plan

Increased devotion to saints and relics

Increased monasticization of worship, decrease of lay involvement

Movement to multiple altars, multiple masses

High Middle Ages

Many large Romanesque Cathedrals and Pilgrimage churches

Space for monks and clergy (chancel or choir) emerges between nave (congregational space) and altar

Cistercians, a monastic reform movement, react to excess with more austere churches

Gothic style develops to open up more of the wall--more windows

Early Protestant Architecture
see White, Introduction, pl. 4

Protestants initially had plenty of churches--no need to build more--simply remodeled

Options:

Doing Nothing: Conservative Lutherans

Iconoclasm and placing table under pulpit in center of nave: Continental Reformed

Dividing into two rooms: nave for liturgies of the word, chancel for eucharist with table in middle of choir: Anglican

Baroque Catholic

Style: Baroque (elaborate Classical revival)
No choir separating people from altar
People are close to altar so they can see the drama of the mass
Pulpit in middle of nave for preaching services
Il Gesu in Rome defined the age (see Introduction)

Protestant Architecture in Colonial America

All were "Auditory Churches"--term coined by Christopher Wren to describe churches he designed in the wake of the Great London Fire of 1666. Spaces for hearing.

Congregation seated in "box pews" or real pews.

Anglican Churches commonly employed triple-decker pulpits (different levels for: psalms and prayers, scripture readings, preaching)

Anglican churches had altar-table at East End--often cruciform in shape

Exterior appearance important: "Meetinghouse" or "Church"