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Scared Christian architecture in the West, in particular Western Europe, has been influenced by a variety of architectural styles that initially derived from Roman pagan designs to new forms that attempted to break away from Roman influences. Christian church architecture indicates the cultural influences on Christianity but also reflected the spiritual ideas dominant in the period churches were built.

==Early Designs==

Soon, another popular earlier Roman design gained increasing use in the early Christian church. Early Christianity wanted to break from the Pagan past but also practically needed more space in their churches. Early church leaders, therefore, turned to the Basilica style architecture already in use in the Roman Empire, which consisted of a large building often with columns that had an apse and large central aisle that was usually raised to give it extra light.<ref>For background into the Basilica design of early churches and their origin, see: Kieckhefer, Richard. 2004. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UNRO9NE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00UNRO9NE&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2929b13d6fdcfaea93f5babd67fc4e97 Theology in Stone: Church Architecture from Byzantium to Berkeley]. New York: Oxford University Press, pg. 22.</ref> The central aisle, or nave, was usually flanked by side aisles with the building also covered by a dome. Basilicas were generally secular buildings in the Roman sense, but were used as areas of public gatherings and business, often located in the central town forums. In fact, Basilica architecture also becomes adopted by the Eastern Roman Empire, which developed into the Byzantine Empire. The most famous example is Hagia Sophia, which is a Byzantine period Cathedral. The style, therefore, began to spread to Eastern Christian churches as well. The apse, central aisle, and side aisles, in fact, were subsequently retained, and formed into a crucifix shape, in later and even modern church architecture, at least for some denominations.<ref>For information on the construction of Hagia Sophia, see: Mainstone, Rowland J. 1997. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0500340986/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0500340986&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d61226c5b486a1338f14b960c9ee6968 Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure and Liturgy of Justinian’s Great Church]''. 1. pb. ed. London: Thames & Hudson.</ref>

During the 12th century, church architecture once again transformed as increased wealth began to flow to European states, with France first developing an architectural style that became known as Gothic and dominated the rest of the Medieval period. In many respects, this style becomes synonymous with most cathedrals today, where pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses become the hallmarks of new churches and cathedrals building during the later Medieval period.<ref>For information on Gothic architectural style and its history, see: Fitchen, John. 1981. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226252035/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0226252035&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2cabc6645c7fb73b092bca3f2c93894d The Construction of Gothic Cathedrals: A Study of Medieval Vault Erection]. Phoenix ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.</ref> The evolution of the Gothic style can be traced to the early Romanesque style, where some Romanesque buildings, for instance, began to incorporate ribbed vaulting as part of their interior design. One of the first true Gothic buildings, which was not an addition or reconstruction from an earlier Romanesque building, was at Noyons, France (Figure 3). The main tenant of Gothic churches is they displayed majesty and grandeur to towns they were in. So they were, on the one hand, expressions of civic pride, while in a religious sense their large, dominating presence in towns reflects the churches and ultimately God’s authority.<ref>

For more information on the spiritual and secular intent of Gothic churches, see: Frankl, Paul, and Paul Crossley. 2000. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300087993/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300087993&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=893a3847fe8893d4f1725c3faf5c98c9 Gothic Architecture]</i>. Yale University Press Pelican History of Art. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.</ref>

==Later Church Forms==

Christian churches changed substantially over the centuries. Initially, the use of pagan Roman architecture was utilized, but soon the Basilica style became practical, as its large size and structure for accommodating large numbers of people, while it also allowed the early Christians to distinguish themselves from earlier paganism. This development then led to Romanesque architecture, which also utilized Roman elements in the early Medieval period; structures had thick walls and allowed major buildings to be sturdy and accommodating for increasing populations in Europe. The Gothic style became then synonymous with the cathedral building boom that occurred in Europe throughout the late Middle Ages; this design allowed to build elegant and large churches that dominated towns and expressed both civic pride and the authority of the Church. At the end of the Middle Ages and spanning the Renaissance, a new style emerged that was inspired by concepts of perfection perceived in earlier Roman and Greek architecture, which was symmetrical and well portioned. In fact, the Renaissance Classical-inspired styles and their offshoots continued into modern periods and 19th century.

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