Christian church architecture through the ages. The author describes tendencies in design for specific times and places, always pointing out how the changes reflected theological trends, liturgical fashions, parishioner involvement, and the political climate.

A truly excellent book. ( )

This is a survey of Christian architecture based on how the nature of the service and the power relationships between clergy and congregation changed over almost 2000 years. In recent times, the three fundamental aspects of church design, she says, are awareness of space, use of truthful and unadorned materials, and the evocative use of light. In the late 19th century, in contrast, many Catholic congregations adopted styles that signaled various nationalist identities— Italian immigrants, for example,erected not the popular Gothic but neoclassical churches that alluded to their Roman heritage.Her reading of buildings is fresh, and you may find yourself saying, "Of course—why didn't I see that?" ( )