A brief history of Catholic Church architecture:
Just in case you wondered about descriptions in listings of churches, here is a brief description of the most popular styles during certain perioeds over the centuries. Naturally, churches were built using these styles at other times as well, up to and including the 21st century.
Early Christian (House Churches):
Early Christians worshiped secretly in homes or “house churches” as they were called until Christianity became legal under the rule of Emperor Constantine the Great. These “houses” were usually rather sizable, with a central courtyard or large room that permitted a somewhat formal setting for Mass. People sat or stood formally, and everyone faced in one direction: east.
Church architecture once Christianity became legal:
Following that, certain styles were prevalent during various periods of church history, although not all churches fit in to one category.
Byzantine
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire, usually dated from 330 AD, when Constantine the Great established a new Roman capital in Byzantium, which became Constantinople, until the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. An example would be the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. The Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, also demonstrates Byzantine architectural features, particularly its mosaics and blending of basilical and central-plan design.
Romanesque:
Primarily used from the mid-11th century to the early 12th century. Romanesque architecture is characterized by massive, sturdy structures with round arches, thick walls, and barrel vaults. It incorporates elements from ancient Roman architecture, such as the rounded arch, and often features decorative arcades, large towers, and sculptures depicting biblical scenes. Romanesque architecture is known for its solidity and simple, symmetrical plans. It is considered the first international style in Western Europe since the Roman Empire, with influences from Roman, Byzantine, and earlier medieval styles.
An example would be the Cathedral of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, shown here.
Gothic:
The Basilica of Saint Denis in France was when, in 1144, that Gothic truly awakened. Abbot Suger’s vision culminated in a transformation where light was no longer filtered through narrow openings, but exalted, set free in luminous stained glass.
A revolution began here, within these ribbed vaults and radiant windows.
A style of masonry building that was used from the mid-12th century to the 16th century. Gothic was characterized by cavernous spaces with the expanse of walls broken up by overlaid tracery. Unlike the older Romanesque style, which used rounded arches and thick walls, Gothic pointed arches and flying buttresses could support more weight with less material. That allowed walls to be thinner and taller. The ribbed vault distributed weight to specific columns and allowed for complex, soaring ceilings.
In addition to those styles listed above there are Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and various Revival styles, as well as Modern.
The physical layout of the Sanctuary of a Catholic Church:
There is much symbolism in the physical layout of Catholic churches.