Churches when defined as being holy buildings built for the purpose of holding Christian worshippers have been around for over a thousand years.  Religious buildings of other denominations, including Judaism (the faith which instigated Christianity itself), have been around for many thousands of years.  When this is taken into consideration it is easy to understand why there are such set styles and rules with concern to church architecture - the practice of designing and constructing such buildings has evolved over the centuries into a fine art.

It is believed that the first churches (as distinct from synagogues, the Jewish temples of worship) were constructed between the first and third centuries A.D.  These churches were built to contain the growing number of Christians who, following the death of Jesus and the later destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem (70 AD), began to spread into Europe through the extent of the mighty Roman Empire.  By the Medieval period Christianity had become the religion of Europe, being observed or at least understood by the overwhelming majority of the population.  Churches needed to be constructed to hold this huge congregation and as such huge works began to take place - cathedrals, basilicas and chapels sprung up all over the countryside.