Medieval Churches & Cathedrals

By Wesley Warner and Olivia Leroux

Evolution of the Medieval CathedralThe time in which the cathedrals were built was a very uncertain time. Life expectancy was short, food was scarce, population was low, and finances were lacking. Builders had to build on a huge scale without access to time saving tools that we have today, like cranes and hoists. To build a cathedral, stone carvers, carpenters, a master mason, an architect, a master stone cutter, laborers, a stone dresser, a black smith, plumbers, a roofer, mortar makers, a glazier or glass maker, a stained glass craftsman, and sculptors were needed.

“Cross-in-Square” 537 A.D.

This church, in 537 A.D. of the medieval times, is built in the “cross-in-square” style which was made famous from the Hagia Sophia ‘Holy Wisdom Church” in Constantinople. This church became the capital of the Byzantine empire. This was a major breakthrough in Orthodox Christian Church architecture.

Stability and Peace, 1000 A.D.

In 1000 A.D., throughout times of turmoil, a church was a unit of stability and peace. Monasteries had influenced land developments and the Romanesque and Gothic architecture styles were developed and greatly focused upon.

Loss of Spirit, 1500 A.D.

In this time period, church towers were erected. But, along with these new cathedral characteristics, the true spirit of medieval church architecture was lost. Accompanying the end of this medieval cathedral period, architecture quickly shifted from Romanesque style to a symbol of linear Norman architecture.

Styles of Architecture

During the Medieval Times, there were two main types of architecture. These two styles were the basic architecture of most medieval cathedrals. These styles consisted of Gothic Architecture and Romanesque Style Architecture

Romanesque Architecture

Descending from Roman customs, Romanesque Architecture is a cathedral style architecture made up of semi-circular, pointed arches. With high quality thick walls, sturdy piers, large towers, groin vaults and decorative arcading, this Romanesque style became very popular for all cathedral architecture during the Medieval Ages.

Gothic Architecture

Gothic architecture is a name that evolved along with the Medieval era. First know as "the French style," this type of architecture evolved from Romanesque style construction and was given the name "gothic" during the conclusion of the Renaissance. With a great range of designs, gothic architecture was applied to several cathedrals, parish churches, abbeys, palaces, castles and manymore famous structures of Europe.

Parts of the Gothic Cathedral 1 & 2. North &

South Tower

3. Western façade

4. Narthex

5. Nave

6. Aisles

7. Crossing

8 & 9. North & South Transept

10. Choir

11. Apse

12. Ambulatory

13. Chapels

14. Flying

Buttresses

15. Rose

Window

16. Spire

Characteristics of Gothic Cathedrals

Click icon to add picture Click icon to add pictureFlying Buttress Ribbed Vault Pointed Arch

• Stone was cut with precision• Walls were solid- allowing them to hold far greater weights - the Gothic style of Castle

Building and Architecture provided much bigger castles.• The use of the Gothic arch led to the construction of light and airy structures • Wider window openings and Gothic Rose Windows.• The introduction of flying buttresses.• Decorative designs and sculptures including Gargoyles.

Materials Used in Gothic Cathedrals

Limestone-Limestone was the most used material in making the cathedrals. It was used to make the outer cathedral walls

Red Sandstone-Red Sandstone was a less common building material and was used in the same way as limestone.

Purbeck Rock-Purbeck rock was mostly used to tile the cathedral floors

Click icon to add picture Click icon to add pictureLimestone

Red Sandstone

Purbeck Rock

Uses of the Medieval Cathedral

The cathedral is a symbol of god, his power, and how people respected him. It was saw that the more splendid the architecture, the more that church praised god.

The Roman Catholic Church was the largest unifying structure in medieval Europe. Other than a small number of Jews, it touched everyone's life from the high class to the serfs.

In the nave, an area which belonged to the people of the parish, manor courts were often held where tenants came to pay rent and received a free meal for this duty.

Uses of the Medieval Cathedral

Services and Plays Followers normally stood in the nave of the church to hear

the preaching. Pews came in the 15th century. Due to the lack of literate people, Bible stories were performed for the congregation in the form of a play.

A Market From the 12th century, markets had been held in the

churchyard. This practice was banned in 1285.

Cathedrals were not only a place to worship God, but a place that towns people would go as a part of their daily lives

How They Were Built

A medieval building site could employ hundreds of workers and people would travel from miles around to take part in cathedral building. A craftsman could begin the building of a medieval cathedral and even that man's grandson wouldn't see it finished.

“Medieval Architecture.” History for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May. 2010.

“Medieval Church Architecture” History Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May. 2010.

“Medieval Churches and Monasteries” Britain Express. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May. 2010.

St. Martin’s Cathedral. N.p. Michaela-August. Web. 3 May. 2010.

Notre Dame. N.p. Paris Lodging. Web. 4 May. 2010.

Stained Glass. N.p.Hhamovhotov. Web. 7 May. 2010.

Romanesque. N.p. Britannica. Web. 8 May. 2010.

Gothic Architecture. N.p. About. Web. 5 May. 2010.

Limestone. N.p. Lafayettemasonry. Web. 6 May. 2010.

Red Sandstone. N.p. Statesymbolsusa. Web. 4 May. 2010

Purbeck. N.p. Salvoweb. Web. 3 May. 2010.

Malmesbury Abbey. N.d. Malmesbury, England. Igougo. Web. 9 May 2010.

Parts of the Gothic Cathedral. N.d., n.p. Absolute Astronomy. Web. 10 May 2010

Bibliography