The Churches were built originally as extensions of a Roman designed Basilica.

As the popularity of the Christian faith increased and with the support of Constantine, there was more money made available for more elaborate buildings.

Usually plain on the outside the first churches were small, dark, built in a rectangle with a semicircle at the Western end for the altar.

Like the Islamic Mosques, there was importance placed on praying towards the direction of the West.

The priests would be at one end of the Basilica and the people along the main rectangle participating in the ceremony.

The dome was over the altar and increased in height and prominence as time went on.