ClipArt ETC
It was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years (1300-1549), but the central spire collapsed in the sixteenth century and was not rebuilt. William the Conqueror ordered the first cathedral to be built in Lincoln, in 1072.

Lincoln Cathedral

It was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years (1300-1549), but the central spire collapsed…

The painted link border is a design found in a Cathedral in Brandenburg, Germany. It is a scroll design of leaves connected like a chain.

Painted Link Border

The painted link border is a design found in a Cathedral in Brandenburg, Germany. It is a scroll design…

A store near the cathedral in Lucerne, Switzerland selling silks.

Silk Store in Lucerne, Switzerland

A store near the cathedral in Lucerne, Switzerland selling silks.

Manchester Cathedral is a Medieval church located on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. Although constructed over a period of 600 years, its main architectural style is Perpendicular Gothic, replete with tall windows and flat fan-vaulted ceilings. The interior of the church contains many pieces of period art, notably the medieval woodcarvings of the Ripon Carvers.

Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Cathedral is a Medieval church located on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the…

In English usage, Minster is an honorific title attached to certain major medieval churches. Most of the best known were cathedrals in the medieval period.

Minster Church, Isle of Sheppey

In English usage, Minster is an honorific title attached to certain major medieval churches. Most of…

A type of fancy roman architecture.

Chevron Molding

A type of fancy roman architecture.

"Nave of Wells Cathedral." —D'Anvers, 1895

Nave

"Nave of Wells Cathedral." —D'Anvers, 1895

Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, originally an Augustinian priory, is now best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron. The priory of St. Mary of Newstead, a house of Augustinian Canons, was founded by King Henry II of England about the year 1170, as one of many penances he paid following the murder of Thomas Becket.

Newstead Abbey

Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, originally an Augustinian priory, is now best known as…

An illustration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. This building is also known as Notre Dame de Paris which is French for Our Lady of Paris. It is the church which contains the official chair of the Archbishop of Paris.

Notre Dame Cathedral

An illustration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. This building is also known as Notre Dame…

"It was in Central France, and mainly along the Loire, that the systematic development of vaulted church architecture began. Naves covered with barrel-vaults, sometimes of pointed section, appear in a number of large churches built during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, with apsidal and transeptal chapels and aisles carried around the apse, as in Notre-Dame du Port at Clermont-Ferrand. The thrust of these ponderous vaults was clumsily resisted by half-barrel vaults over the side aisles, transmitting the strain to massive side-walls."

Section of Notre-Dame du Port

"It was in Central France, and mainly along the Loire, that the systematic development of vaulted church…

Old St. Paul's is a name used to refer to the Gothic cathedral in the City of London built between 1087 and 1314. At its peak, the cathedral was the third longest church in Europe and had one of the tallest spires. Old St Paul's was completely gutted in the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the roof and much of the stonework. Temporary repairs were made to the building, but while it might have been salvageable, albeit with almost complete reconstruction, a decision was taken to build a new cathedral in a modern style instead, a step which had been contemplated even before the fire.

Old St. Paul's Cathedral

Old St. Paul's is a name used to refer to the Gothic cathedral in the City of London built between 1087…

Old St. Paul's is a name used to refer to the Gothic cathedral in the City of London built between 1087 and 1314. At its peak, the cathedral was the third longest church in Europe and had one of the tallest spires. The cathedral was destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666, and the current domed St. Paul's Cathedral — in an English Baroque style — was subsequently erected on the site by Sir Christopher Wren.

Chapter House of Old St. Paul's

Old St. Paul's is a name used to refer to the Gothic cathedral in the City of London built between 1087…

In 1522, the priory was surrendered to Cardinal Wolsey, having selected it as a site for his proposed college. However, in 1529 the foundation was taken over by King Henry VIII. Work stopped, but in June 1532 the college was refounded by the King. In 1546, Henry VIII transferred to it from Oseney to the see of Oxford. The cathedral has the name of Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxoniensis, given to it by King Henry VIII's foundation charter.

Oxford Cathedral

In 1522, the priory was surrendered to Cardinal Wolsey, having selected it as a site for his proposed…

The marble panel is an Italian Renaissance design done with inlaid work. It is found in the pulpit of a cathedral in Savona, Italy.

Marble Panel

The marble panel is an Italian Renaissance design done with inlaid work. It is found in the pulpit of…

The marble panel is an Italian Renaissance design done with inlaid work. It is found in the pulpit of a cathedral in Savona, Italy.

Marble Panel

The marble panel is an Italian Renaissance design done with inlaid work. It is found in the pulpit of…

"Clustered pillar from the nave of Wells Cathedral." —D'Anvers, 1895

Clustered pillar

"Clustered pillar from the nave of Wells Cathedral." —D'Anvers, 1895

The lower part of column profiled shaft is a design found in the Mayence Cathedral in Germany.

Lower Part of Column Profiled Shaft

The lower part of column profiled shaft is a design found in the Mayence Cathedral in Germany.

A pulpit (from Latin pulpitum "scaffold", "platform", "stage") is a small elevated platform from which a member of the clergy delivers a sermon in a house of worship.

Pulpit

A pulpit (from Latin pulpitum "scaffold", "platform", "stage") is a small elevated platform from which…

This Lectern Relief is details shown from a cathedral in Limoges, France.

Lectern Relief

This Lectern Relief is details shown from a cathedral in Limoges, France.

This Lectern Relief is details shown from a cathedral in Limoges, France.

Lectern Relief

This Lectern Relief is details shown from a cathedral in Limoges, France.

This Lectern Relief is details shown from a cathedral in Limoges, France.

Lectern Relief

This Lectern Relief is details shown from a cathedral in Limoges, France.

"Effigy of Robert of Normandy. In Gloucester Cathedral." —D'Anvers, 1895

Robert of Normandy

"Effigy of Robert of Normandy. In Gloucester Cathedral." —D'Anvers, 1895

Archiepiscopal cathedral at Zara.

Romanesque cathedral

Archiepiscopal cathedral at Zara.

Line drawing of a large Romanesque church. The illustration is similar to the Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St Stephen in Speyer, Germany, although it differs in some details. The original source <em>(Winston's Encyclopedia)</em> incorrectly identifies the structure as the "Cathedral of Worms."

Romanesque Church

Line drawing of a large Romanesque church. The illustration is similar to the Imperial Cathedral Basilica…

In Gothic architecture, a lantern tower is frequently placed over the center of cross churches, and the light admitted by windows in the sides. This illustration shows the lantern tower at St. Ouen in Rouen, France

Lantern Tower at St. Ouen; Rouen, France

In Gothic architecture, a lantern tower is frequently placed over the center of cross churches, and…

"Profile and view from beneath of the Rafters in the Christian Basilica of San Miniato at Florence. The roofing of the basilicas consisted of beams with a flat paneling, which was richly gilt in earlier times, or the rafters of the timberworks were left without a casing, and were ornamented with colorful embellishments."

Profile of San Miniato al Monte

"Profile and view from beneath of the Rafters in the Christian Basilica of San Miniato at Florence.…

"Section of the Church of S. Constantia at Rome. The simplest desctiptions of this kind of building are the baptistries, for which the ancient Thermæ furnished models. They generally have a circular or octagonal ground plan, a main space covered with a round or polygonal dome, and a circular passage separated therefrom by pillars in the same way that the side aisles are separated from the main aisle in basilicas. Sometimes they were without this passage, and only had galleries running round the interior like boxes in a theater. These buildings were generally constructed in the vicinity of cathedrals.

Santa Costanza

"Section of the Church of S. Constantia at Rome. The simplest desctiptions of this kind of building…

"Tower of the Early Christian Basilica of S. Maria in Cosmedin at Rome." Santa Maria in Cosmedin (or de Schola Graeca) is a basilica church in Rome. The church was built in the 6th century over the remains of the Templum Herculis Pompeiani in the Forum Boarium and of the Statio annonae, one of the food distribution centres of ancient Rome.

Tower of Santa Maria in Cosmedin

"Tower of the Early Christian Basilica of S. Maria in Cosmedin at Rome." Santa Maria in Cosmedin (or…

The Renaissance spanrail panel is a plinth (base) of a column. It is found in the St. Anthony cathedral in Padua, Italy.

Renaissance Spanrail Panel

The Renaissance spanrail panel is a plinth (base) of a column. It is found in the St. Anthony cathedral…

"1, Turret, St. Peter's Church, Oxford; 2, Turret, Rochester Cathedral; 3, St. Mary's Church, Cheltenham; 4, Bayeux Church, Normandy." &mdash; Chambers, 1881

Spire

"1, Turret, St. Peter's Church, Oxford; 2, Turret, Rochester Cathedral; 3, St. Mary's Church, Cheltenham;…

The Renaissance square panel is mosaic flooring design found in a cathedral in Spoleto, Itlay.

Renaissance Square Panel

The Renaissance square panel is mosaic flooring design found in a cathedral in Spoleto, Itlay.

Notable is the Saxon church (dedicated to St. Laurence), which may have been founded by St. Aldhelm around 700, and could have been a temporary burial site for King Edward the Martyr. It was re-discovered by Canon Jones in the 19th century, having been used for secular purposes (apparently becoming a house, a school and part of a factory).

St. Aldhelm's Church, Bradford-on-Avon

Notable is the Saxon church (dedicated to St. Laurence), which may have been founded by St. Aldhelm…

The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589. Between AD645 and 1097, the community was attacked many times by raiders, including the Vikings, however it was of such note as both a religious and intellectual centre that King Alfred summoned help from the monastic community at St David's in rebuilding the intellectual life of the Kingdom of Wessex.

St. David's Cathedral

The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589. Between AD645…

A prominent feature of the Edinburgh skyline, St. Giles' Cathedral or the High Kirk of Edinburgh is a Church of Scotland. The church has been one of Edinburgh's religious focal points for approximately 900 years. Today it is sometimes regarded as the mother church of Presbyterianism. St. Giles was only a cathedral in its formal sense (i.e. the seat of a bishop) for two periods during the 17th century (1635&ndash;38 and 1661&ndash;1689), when Episcopalianism, backed by the Crown, briefly gained ascendancy within the Kirk.

St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh

A prominent feature of the Edinburgh skyline, St. Giles' Cathedral or the High Kirk of Edinburgh is…

This fresco by Correggio is of St. John sitting and writing next to a black hawk. The fresco can be found hanging over the doorway of San Giovanni Evangelista in Parma.

St. John the Evangelist

This fresco by Correggio is of St. John sitting and writing next to a black hawk. The fresco can be…

The Basilica of St. John Lateran (Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the cathedral of the church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, containing the papal throne (Cathedra Romana), it ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church, even above St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

St. John's Church, Lateran Palace, Rome

The Basilica of St. John Lateran (Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the cathedral of…

The old Byzantine church, St. Martin's Church was the beloved church of the poor. It stood by the Cathedral of Cologne and represented the old Catholic city of the Rhine.

St. Martin's Church

The old Byzantine church, St. Martin's Church was the beloved church of the poor. It stood by the Cathedral…

St. Martin's was the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent in the 6th Century before Augustine arrived from Rome. Queen Bertha was a Christian when she arrived in England with her Chaplain, Bishop Liudhard, and King Ethelbert, her husband.

St. Martin's Church, Canterbury

St. Martin's was the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent in the 6th Century before Augustine arrived…

"Section and Interior View of the five-aisled Basilica of S. Pietro at Rome, before its restoration. Large basilicas sometimes have as many as five aisles &mdash; namely, a main-aisle in the middle, and two lower aisles on each side."

Old St. Peter's Basilica

"Section and Interior View of the five-aisled Basilica of S. Pietro at Rome, before its restoration.…

The Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. It occupies a "unique position" as one of the holiest sites and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom". The Apostolic Palace, also called the Sacred Palace, the Papal Palace or the Palace of the Vatican, is the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City.

St. Peter's Church and Vatican Palace, Rome

The Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. It occupies a "unique position" as one…

The original Saxon church on the site was dedicated to St. Edmund the King and Martyr. During the Crusades in the 12th century the church was renamed St. Edmund and the Holy Sepulchre, in reference to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The name eventually became contracted to St Sepulchre.

St. Sepulchre's, Cambridge

The original Saxon church on the site was dedicated to St. Edmund the King and Martyr. During the Crusades…

"It was in Central France, and mainly along the Loire, that the systematic development of vaulted church architecture began. Naves covered with barrel-vaults, sometimes of pointed section, appear in a number of large churches built during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, with apsidal and transeptal chapels and aisles carried around the apse, as in the imposing church of St. Sernin at Toulouse, in Provence. The thrust of these ponderous vaults was clumsily resisted by half-barrel vaults over the side aisles, transmitting the strain to massive side-walls."

Plan of St. Sernin, Toulouse

"It was in Central France, and mainly along the Loire, that the systematic development of vaulted church…

"Tournai Cathedral." &mdash; The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Tournai Cathedral

"Tournai Cathedral." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

The transept is the area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture.

Transept of the Martyrdom at Canterbury Cathedral

The transept is the area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building in Romanesque…

Valladolid's Cathedral, also called Cathedral of Nuestra Se&ntilde;ora de la Asunci&oacute;n, was designed by Juan de Herrera.

Valladolid Cathedral

Valladolid's Cathedral, also called Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, was designed…

"Plan of Wells Cathedral. A, Apse or apsis. B, Altar, altar-platform, and altar-steps. D E, Eastern or lesser transept. F G, Western or greater transept. H, Central towers. I J, Western towers. K, North porch. L, Library or register. M, Principal or western doorway. N N, Western side doors. O, Cloister yard or garth. P Q, North and south aisles of choir. R S, East and west aisles of transept. T U, North and south aisles of nave. R R, Chapels. V, Rood screen or organ loft. W, Altar of Lazy chapel." &mdash; Winston's Encyclopedia, 1919

Wells Cathedral

"Plan of Wells Cathedral. A, Apse or apsis. B, Altar, altar-platform, and altar-steps. D E, Eastern…

The gothic architecture of Westminster Abbey, the great church in London, England.

Westminster Abbey

The gothic architecture of Westminster Abbey, the great church in London, England.