Medieval Churches & Cathedrals

By Wesley Warner and Olivia Leroux

Evolution of the Medieval Cathedral
The 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.
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 many
more famous structures of Europe.
Parts of the Gothic Cathedral
 1 & 2. North & South
Tower  13. Chapels

 3. Western façade  14. Flying

 4. Narthex Buttresses

 5. Nave  15. Rose

 6. Aisles Window

 7. Crossing  16. Spire

 8 & 9. North & South

Transept

 10. Choir

 11. Apse

 12. Ambulatory
 Flying Buttress Ribbed Vault Pointed Arch
Click icon to add picture Click icon to add picture

Characteristics of Gothic Cathedrals

Click icon to add picture
Limestone Click icon to add picture
Purbeck Rock

Red Sandstone

Materials Used in Gothic Cathedrals

Uses of the Medieval Cathedral
CITES