It is said that all architecture has its origins in religion. Most of the oldest structures erected by man are interpreted as being places of burial and as holy places.
The first hunter/gatherers set up large standing stones as they roamed the countryside, even though they had no permanent dwellings. With agriculture came the need for permanent homes. Sacred areas were surrounded by stone circles.
When the first permanent dwellings were built by humans, they built even more substantial homes for their gods. With the coming of Christianity and permanent churches, the same principal applied. The splendid medieval churches we now see were originally surrounded by crude wood and thatch dwellings.
An ancient parish church has usually undergone a series of redevelopments through the centuries, to take account of new architectural styles, growing congregations and necessary repairs. The evolution of old churches can be estimated from the style of arches, doorways and windows, as these features were most commonly changed.
The main architectural styles are Saxon (597-1066); Norman (1066-1200); Early English (c1200-1290); Decorated (c1290-1350); and Perpendicular (c1350-1530).
The oldest surviving parish church in England is St Martin in Canterbury, and dates to about 590AD.
Since the 1500s, the principal parts of an ancient church have usually remained basically unaltered. Stonework weathered over the centuries may have been replaced, and in some cases vestries have been attached, but essentially the structure is the same.
A picture speaks a thousand words. The Centre for Christianity and Culture at the University of York has produced a series of fascinating 3d visualisations of the development of a typical English parish church. We have used them here to illustrate the main periods of architecture you will discover when you explore churches.