From the earliest establishments up through present day structures, this expansive history explores how churches have been conceived as spaces for worship throughout the centuries. Their development from the early Roman house churches through Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic structures is addressed, as are the significant changes brought about by the Reformation. Infused throughout with the spirit of the human quest for meaning and transcendence, this is a lavishly illustrated guide to the history, meanings, and messages of houses of worship.