An insightful look into the Christian church, this book presents a general exploration and overview of Christian architecture focusing on the church as the archetype of Christian sacred space. The historical development of the church is examined from its Jewish antecedents and earliest forms to the later Western and Eastern divergence. Not specifically confined to just a work on Christian architecture, Richard Outhwaite extends his study of the church to the liturgical action, to that which occurs within this sanctified space, and examines some of its historical roots. This volume is written basically from an Eastern Orthodox perspective and also makes observations of present-day developments and reflects on the present and future growth of the church and its function.