How to Read Churches is a pocket primer for decoding the structure and purpose of ecclesiastical buildings. It traces the development of church architecture from biblical precedents like the Temple of Solomon via the ornate passion of medieval Gothic cathedrals to the Postmodern works of the twenty-first century. Adopting a strictly visual approach, this accessible guide uses exquisite engravings and authoritative text to: - explore all types of Western Christian ecclesiastical building - churches, cathedrals, chapels, abbeys and monasteries. - provide the context for building styles, materials and motifs and lo identify the separate architectural elements, interior organisation and ornament of some of the most exalted buildings in the Western world. - show the reader how to search for the visual clues that tell the story of ecclesiastical buildings: the messages they convey and (heir spiritual connection between heaven and Earth.