At the time Constantine established Christianity, many of basilicas, or courts of justice, in the great cities of were converted into Christian churches, and being convenient for the accommodation of great assem • plies, the new churches were built in the same form. This form was oblong, and had pillars within the walls of the covered cells, thereby dividing the whole breadth into three or four aisles. The principal entrance was at the west end ; and the east end, where the tribunal was placed, was of a circular form. See Bentham on Saxon Churches.
Here, then, we find established the oblong form, with the space between the walls, divided by two rows of co lumns into three- aisles. Upon the columns, arches are immediately erected in a connected range, to receive an upper wall which supports the roof. The chief entrance is also at the west end, and the east end is of a circular shape. An addition was made, which completed the La tin cross, and perfected the ground plan of a Christian church. The remains of ancient edifices, part of which were converted into churches, had still some influence in guiding the workmen of that age in their clumsy ope rations. They had preserved the principles and habit of arching vaults, especially the kind which is now denomi nated groins. They are formed by two arches intersect ing each other at right angles, and, in many instances, springing from four points only. By this means, the diagonal lines formed by the intersection of the two arches, cross each other at the centre of the vault. It is Of importance to notice this circumstance, because it af terwards became one of the principal features of the Gothic style.
Rome being at the head of the Christian church, and for several ages possessing unbounded influence over all the rest of Europe, created a great intercourse, and af forded the ecclesiastical dignitaries ample opportunities of becoming early acquainted with the forms of the Ita lian churches. and vanity introduced similar edifices into the several countries where they resided, and, through their means, the rage for building churches in a short time became general and excessive.
This ecclesiastical architecture, drawn from the same source, and diffused through the several countries of Eu rope by the same description of characters, a general re semblance was preserved ; yet the architecture of each country in this, as in other matters, from a variety of local circumstances, soon came to be distinguished by peculiar features. That of Italy retained the greatest
resemblance to the Roman manner, and was seldom over loaded with ornaments. In the northern countries, the decorations were more redundant. In all of them, the attention was bestowed chiefly upon the western façade. At Pisa, Orvietto, and Sienna, in Italy, circular arcades and porticos are frequent. Some are composed of co lumns, taker from Roman works, and others imperfect imitations. In Spain, the architecture was strong and massive in its outlines, but decorated with minute orna ments of great delicacy, borrowed from the Moors. See Dallaway's Observations, pp. 2-6.
During the reign of Charlemagne, many magnificent churches 11, ere erected ; and the extent of his dominions served to gire some degree of regularity to the operations of architecture. This, especially in France, lc , mod no inconsiderable xra. He is even said to have introduced it into that country; and it is certain that the cathedral of Rheims was erected during the reign of his successor in 875.
The most remarkable mra in the history of this school of architecture, was the crusades to the Holy Land. This apparent frenzy and &fusion, which threatened to unpeople Europe, and overwhelm Asia, and which was actually productive of so rruiCii bloodshed and misery, had also the effect of iatred,icing into the countries of the west, all the know:ecto:e arid arts collected from the east and south, intc a district bounded by Greece and Pales tine, and which, from the contentions of the Turks, Sara cens, and the remnants of the Western empire, seemed on the point of extermination even from thence, and be ing of course lost to mankind. But the intercourse of 174 years, taught the rude warriors of Christendom the benefits of more polished manners, and made them ac quainted with the improvements and arts of those eastern countries.
In those days of religious zeal, it cannot be doubted, that every thing which related to the improvements in the forms and decoration of ecclesiastical buildings, would be carefully attended to, by the prelates from dif ferent countries, who were connected with the several expeditions ; and that they would, on their return home, endeavour to introduce their newly acquired information. See Felib. Rec. Hist. p. 165.