ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book argues short statement of the vital connection between the church building and the institutional Church. The church building presents an image of the institutional Church, and, at the same time, when a congregation gathers within it for worship, it also constitutes the reality and local manifestation of that institution. The book explores one of enthusiastic optimism within the Church and apparent fervour amongst a burgeoning faithful. The Roman Catholic Church building was therefore tied to the development of a modern Britain. The church of St Gregory, like all the others studied in the book, can therefore be positioned in its period in terms of the contemporary context of architectural discourse and design practice. It focuses on the parish church, and so monastic, convent, school and seminary buildings have been only rarely included in favour of this primary subject area.
