Early Christian Architecture

I. Early Christian Architecture: Introduction

The term early Christian architecture refers to the architecture of the early Christian churches of the roman era

This is further divided into two types; the basilica church and the alternative church plans.

With Christianity accepted as a state religion in Rome and expanding in influence, it became necessary for architecture to respond to the space demands of the new religion.

A building used for Christian worship had to provide a path for the processional entry and exit of the clergy, an alter area, where the clergy celebrated mass, a space for the segregation of the clergy from congregation during the procession and communion.

II. Early Christian Architecture

Basilica Church Type Apart from administering to the spiritual needs of the living, some churches

also provided burial spaces for the dead. The early churches were generally simple and functional in their design. The emphasis was centered on the act of Christian worship. The architecture of the church that developed was not a completely new style,

but the use of available Roman forms to satisfy a new program need. The form chosen for the early church was the Roman basilica It was suitable for use as a church with no serious modification and it could be

easily and rapidly built at low cost.

The Basilica was also preferred because of the emphasis on participation in mass.

The most common form of the early churches had a rectangular hall with a timber trussed roof.

It also had one or two isles on each side of a central nave and an apse at one end facing the principal entrance located at the other end

The apse of the basilica was used as a location for the alter. The nave was used as a sitting for the clergy. Common people sat in the isles.

The early churches may have a courtyard or atrium in front of it. A fountain is usually located in the center of such an atrium; This was used for

baptism Most of the early churches had clerestory lighting Clerestory windows were developed to give light to the central part of the

interior . Gradually, the clerestory windows became a symbol of the transcendence and

grace of god. Variations in the character of the early church reflected differences in local

resources and traditions

III. Early Christian Architectureo S. Giovanni in Laterano AD 313-320

A typical example of the early Christian church is S. Giovanni in Laterano Rome.

It was the first church commission by Emperor Constantine.

It was built as the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome.

It was remodeled several times

The image is a reconstruction of the original church.

The church consists of a central nave flanked by two narrow aisles and separated from them by a monumental colonnade.

The central nave rose above the isle roof, and the inner isle rose above the outer.

The nave terminated at an apse. The structure was of brick faced concrete covered with simple trussed-timber

roof.

S. Peters, Rome AD 333

St Peter was the most important of the basilica churches built by Constantine. The church has a triple entrance gate leading to an atrium. The church like S. Giovanni discussed earlier is a five isles church. The Basilica had a wooden roof of interlocking rafters. The nave did not lead directly to the apse but instead ends in a transverse

space that is as high as the nave The nave terminated in a triumphal arch that framed the curve of the apse.

Some of the early churches were built over the tomb of martyrs and are known as martyrium.

St Peters is one of the earliest and most important of the matyrium churches. It was built over what was believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter who was a

disciple of Jesus

o Church Of Nativity, Bethlehem

This is the church of the nativity Bethlehem. It was built at the place where Jesus, (Isaalayhisalaam), is believed to be

born.

Here we also find the standard features of a basilica church. These include:

A central nave 2 isles on each side of the nave

An apse at the head of the nave. An atrium before the entrance. The use of clerestory lighting. The most significant aspect of this church is a large octagon at its head

covered by a conical roof. This is the exact location where Jesus, Isa Alayh isalaam, was born. It is therefore a palace of pilgrimage for the Christians

o Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem AD335

This is the church of the holy sepulcher in Jerusalem. Affected by the constrain of site, it has a very short atrium. It is a 5 isle church terminating at a nave articulated by 12 columns. The side isles had a gallery on top. The outer isles lead to a long peristyle court closing in a curve. This court is believed to frame the holy sepulcher where Christians believe

Jesus is believed to be buried. The isles therefore provide access for pilgrims to go round the holy sepulcher. In general, churches that cater for pilgrims usually have a slightly different

form.

Some of these churches also serve as burial spots for those who want to be buried along with the saints they commemorated.

IV. Early Christian Architecture

Alternative Church Form The rectangular basilica was not the only form adopted for the early church. Alternative more centralized plans, with a focus on a central vertical axis

rather than a longitudinal horizontal one were also adopted occasionally. The reasons for their adoption are not very clear. The centralized churches were of two broad types. There were the completely circular churches. These had a circular or octagonal space surrounded by an ambulatory. Examples of these include Saint Constanza Rome, the lateranBaptistery Rome

and Saint Stefano Rotondo. The second type of centralized church was the lobed or four-lobed form set

within an overall pentagon or square. Examples of this include Holy Apostle Milan and St Lorenzo Milan. In the early years of Christianity, the alternative form was common both in the

Eastern and Western Roman Empires, but later the Basilica Become more

popular in the West and the centralized alternative form more popular in the Eastern Empire

o Round Alternative Form : St Constanza

This was a church originally designed as a mausoleum for Emperor Constantine’s daughter.

It was designed as a centralized monument

It is symmetrical in plan with a domed central space.

The domed central space was ringed by an arcade with 12 pairs of double colonnade.

Beyond the arcade is an encircling ambulatory.

A barrel vault is used to roof the ambulatory

o Round Alternative Form : Lateran Baptistery

The lateranBaptistery was built by Emperor Constantine in A.D. 315.

It was designed to mirror S. Constanza.

The circular scheme of S. Constanzawas in this church changed to two octagonal rings.

A ring of trabeated colonnade defined the central space.

o Round Alternative form : St Stefano Rotondo

It was built in A.D. 468 and was the first circular church in Rome.

It is the largest circular church, having diameter of about 36 meters.

The plan of the church blends the cruciform with a circular plan.

It has a huge central nave

The central nave is encircled by ionic columns and is lit by 22 clerestory windows.

An ambulatory surrounds the colonnade of the nave and opens to four chapels used to define a cruciform shape.

o Lobed Alternative form Holy Apostle, Milan AD 370

This is basically a square form church with a central plan

It was built as the church of the imperial palace, when the capital of the Western Empire moved to Milan

It had a square central space 23.5 meters wide extending in all four directions

The central space was defined by a 2-storey columnar screen supporting some half domes

Several subsidiary octagonal structures are grouped around the main church

o St Lorenzo Milan

This church was laid out as a huge cross shaped structure

It has a single aisle nave opening through columnar screens into its transept arms

Each of the arms terminate with a projecting portal hall

The building is a martyrium, holding relics of apostles in a casket beneath the alter

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