COLONIAL

Overview

It encompasses churches built by colonial powers in various regions, blending local materials and
techniques with elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. These churches often feature
simple layouts, thick walls, wooden construction, and adaptations to local climate and culture. They
serve as important cultural and historical landmarks in the regions they were built.

Details

St. John's Church in Kolkata, India, holds historical significance as one of the oldest Anglican churches in
the city. Designed by James Agg and initiated by the then Governor-General of India, Lord Hastings, its
construction began in 1784. The church was consecrated in 1787, although its tower was completed in
1818.

The church's architecture showcases a Neoclassical style with Doric columns, giving it a dignified and
classical appearance. St. John's Church houses a number of memorial plaques and tombs, including that
of Job Charnock, one of the founders of Kolkata.

Constructed using a combination of brick and stone, the church features a mix of indigenous and
imported materials. The walls are made of brick while the columns and decorative elements are crafted
from stone. The interior boasts a lofty, spacious nave with elegant proportions.

The latest update in September 2021, St. John's Church stands as a historical monument and continues
to hold regular services.
POST-COLONIAL

Overview

Post-colonial church architecture is a diverse style emerging after colonial rule. It breaks from European
influences, embracing local culture. These churches blend indigenous design with contemporary trends,
showcasing varied styles, materials, and forms based on regions. The goal is to reflect community
identity and modern practices. This architecture blends tradition and modernity, expressing cultural
pride and national identity while evolving with architectural trends, contributing to church architecture's
ongoing relevance.

Details

The Washington National Cathedral, located in Washington, D.C., is a prominent example of American
Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1907 and continued for many decades, with the final
completion of the main structure in 1990. The cathedral was designed by architect George Frederick
Bodley, with later modifications by Philip Hubert Frohman and Frederick Bodley's assistant, Henry
Vaughan.

The cathedral's intricate design features Gothic Revival elements, including flying buttresses, pointed
arches, and decorative details. It boasts beautiful stained-glass windows, intricate stone carvings, and a
stunning central tower that rises to a height of about 300 feet.

The Washington National Cathedral is not only a place of worship but also serves as a national landmark,
hosting significant events such as presidential inaugurations, state funerals, and other national
ceremonies.

Construction of the cathedral was done using traditional masonry techniques, including limestone from
Indiana for the exterior. The interior features a mix of materials, including marble, granite, and various
types of wood. The craftsmanship involved in the intricate stone carvings and stained-

glass windows is remarkable.

In September 2021, the Washington National Cathedral remains an active Episcopal church and a
popular tourist destination.
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Overview

Industrial revolution church architecture is a response to urbanization and technological changes.

Churches integrated earlier styles like Neo-Gothic or Romanesque revival with new materials like iron
and steel. They featured larger interiors for urban populations, innovative designs, ornate decorations,
and practical improvements such as heating and acoustics. This era saw a shift from rural parish churches
to larger urban ones, combining historical elements with modern advancements to mirror the evolving
society and technology.

Details

St. Eugene's Cathedral, also known as St. Eugene's Cathedral, is a notable religious structure located in
Derry, Northern Ireland. Construction of the cathedral began in 1840 and was completed in 1873. The
cathedral's designer was J.J. McCarthy, an Irish architect renowned for his work in Gothic Revival
architecture.

The cathedral features stunning Gothic Revival architecture, characterized by pointed arches, intricate
stained glass windows, and detailed stone carvings. It serves as the Mother Church of the Diocese of
Derry, and its prominent spire stands as one of the tallest in Ireland.

St. Eugene's Cathedral continues to be an active place of worship and a significant landmark in the city of
Derry.

In terms of construction, the cathedral was built using traditional methods of the time, including stone
masonry for the walls and buttresses. The materials used primarily include local stone and brick,
contributing to the cathedral's distinct appearance. The interior showcases intricate woodwork,
impressive stained glass, and various religious artifacts, making it a notable example of 19th-century
ecclesiastical architecture.
GOTHIC

Overview

Details

Considered to be one of the greatest examples of French Gothic architecture, Notre-Dame Cathedral
- along with the Eiffel Tower - is one of Paris's most famous landmarks. Located on the Ile de la Cite,
an island in the River Seine, the cathedral was commissioned by Maurice de Sully shortly after
becoming Bishop of Paris in 1160, and built over two centuries, from 1163 to 1345, although much
of it was completed before his death in 1196. The cathedral is renowned for the naturalism of
its gothic sculpture as well as its sublime stained glass art, typifying the improvements made over
the previous era of Romanesque Architecture and Romanesque sculpture (c.1000-1200). Significant
damage was caused to the cathedral during the radical phase of the French Revolution (1790s),
which was followed in the mid-1840s by an extensive program of renovation, overseen by the
restoration specialist Eugene Viollet-le-Duc.

The cathedral is roughly 128 metres (420 ft) in length, and 12 metres (39 ft) wide in the nave. Its
cruciform plan, elevated nave, transept and tower were borrowed from 11th-century Romanesque
architecture, but its pointed arches and rib vaulting were strictly Gothic. Indeed, it was one of the
first Gothic cathedrals to have arched exterior supports known as "flying buttresses". These were not
incorporated into the initial architecture of the building, but were included when stress fractures
began to appear in the thin upper walls as they cracked under the weight of the vault. In addition to
the flying buttresses, over a dozen supporting piers were constructed to support the exterior walls
and counteract the lateral thrust of the nave vaulting. Notre-Dame is also famous for its external
statues and gargoyles arranged around the outside to serve as extra column supports and drainage
pipes. As Gothic building designers hoped, the additional reinforcement provided by the buttresses,
piers and other stone supports enabled the main walls of the cathedral to become non-structural,
and thus a greater wall area was available for stained glass, in order to inspire worshippers and
illuminate the cathedral's interior. Indeed, Notre-Dame Cathedral exemplifies the main contributions
of Gothic art to Christian architecture: churches soared higher and were more awe-inspiring, while
their stained glass windows let in more light and provided additional Biblical art for the
congregation. Thus the clerestory windows of Notre-Dame's original nave were enlarged in the 13th
century, filling the interior with light, thanks to the improvements achieved in structural support.

Notre-Dame's stern facade is decorated with a mass of stone sculpture, notably around the central
portal, which is flanked by statues depicting The Last Judgment. The facade design balances the
verticality of the twin towers (69 metres in height) with the horizontal banding of the decorated
galleries. This produces a simple but powerful western elevation, which dominates the square in
front.
The cathedral's transept portals are also richly decorated with architectural relief sculpture; the
south door features scenes from the lives of Saint Stephen along with other local saints, while the
decorations around the north door depict the infancy of Christ and the tale of Theophilus.

Notre Dame is currently scheduled to reopen in 2024, five years to the day after the devastating fire
destroyed the upper part of Notre-Dame Cathedral and the surrounding areas.
RENAISSANCE

Overview

Details

Standing tall as a mark of Rome and the entire Christendom, St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is a
Renaissance masterpiece. Built over the Tomb of St. Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ,
the colossal structure is one among the four major basilicas in the world.

The structure was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1506 and took nearly 120 years to complete.
The construction saw contributions from the master artists and architects of the Renaissance era,
including Michelangelo and Raphael.

St. Peter's Basilica was built in Baroque style architecture. It follows the style of the Roman
Pantheon, but Michelangelo modified the final design to include the supporting piers to hold the
massive dome. The core plan of Bramante was to match the Basilica to a Latin cross.

The interior was opulent with marbles, Renaissance-era sculptures as well as artefacts. After Bernini
built the Baldacchino and St. Peter's chair to complete the structure, St. Peter's Chair, the Church has
become a textbook symbol of the renaissance.

The material Bramante used in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica was a lime-based sedimentary
rock named travertine. It was very durable and had great strength. The construction team used the
travertine quarried from Tivoli, a mineral-rich town near the Vatican. When Pope Julius II asked the
designer to cut costs, Bramante limited the use of travertine and explored alternative options like
bricks. Marble was another important ingredient. Architects have also used materials sourced from
other buildings.

St. Peter’s Basilica is noted for its unique architectural style. It's home to a treasure-trove of artefacts
and Baroque-style construction from the Renaissance age. Everything, including the Dome of the
Basilica was new to the architecture style prevalent at that time.

St. Peter’s Basilica still stands today in Vatican City.