How To Tell The Difference Between Kinds of Medieval Churches (So You Sound Smart) [Long Shorts]

[@virgilxavier1]

I didn't even think it was possible for me to find a way to sound more pretentious! Thanks! 🙏

[@myladycasagrande863]

I was thinking pedantic, but pretentious also fits.

[@stellangios]

@@myladycasagrande863 It'll be pedantic if you correct small details of what someone is telling you about the styles of these churches, but if you bring up the different styles (esp with a snotty affect, and/or a sneering attitude towards one or more particular styles you deem lesser) you'll be pretentious

[@wendolynmutunhu2866]

Ms Draper, you make learning things so much fun. A friend of mine back in the 1970’s did his Master’s Degree on Church Architecture and indeed he always sounded smart.

[@meganhartmann180]

Wow! What a cool master's subject.

[@personperson.7744]

Thank you Ms Draper. I have a medieval church meeting with medieval church enthusiasts about our favourite medieval churches, so this couldn’t be better timing

[@sergiojuanmembiela6223]

Unless you are joking, I would have thought that someone who goes to medieval church meetings with medieval church enthusiasts and who has one (or more) favourite medieval churches, would already have known all of it.

[@personperson.7744]

@@sergiojuanmembiela6223 it was spring upon me by medieval church loving friend who was head of the medieval church club at school

[@llynnmarks3382]

I love learning and wish more people thought knowledge is cool.

[@SamAronow]

In retrospect, we Californian 7th graders spent a weirdly large amount of history class learning these.

[@13lizby85]

In the UK and never learned this. Dang.

[@PeterDebney]

Fun fact: because the designs of these churches were all based on geometric rules, the proportions are all based on factors of 2 or √2 (the diagonal of a square), while the curves are all circular. Norman arches had a single centre of curvature (the middle) while the early Gothic had two (one on each edge). Another fun fact: calling the church style "gothic" was originally an insult, directly comparable to calling something vandalism today. The Goths and the Vandals (both Germanic tribes) had sacked Rome, so were not well loved by the Roman Catholic church.

[@betht60]

Interesting comment, thanks!

[@BasiliskKingOfSerpents]

While I don’t plan to visit any English churches any time soon, this will provide excellent fodder to build out descriptions for tabletop roleplaying games. Thanks!

[@bun197]

nobody asked

[@BasiliskKingOfSerpents]

@@bun197 Thanks for the engagement! And for adding so much to the conversation ❤️

[@MemphiStig]

One of my favorite college memories was the professor who (mistakenly not jokingly) referred to the structural supports known as "flying buttocks." (iykyk)

[@Brasswatchman]

(raises hand) Professor Draper? How can we tell the difference between an actually old church and a church built later in an older style?

[@davidcope5736]

A good method would be to look at the stonework. More modern churches will have a more uniform and pristine look to their stone, whereas older churches will often have a kind of "patchy" look because of the centuries of repair. Also, older churches generally have grown through successive building campaigns, whereas newer churches have usually been built much more quickly to one design. So a genuine medieval church will be a collage of different styles, resulting in a more eclectic effect. Medieval masons even often made mistakes when planning out their churches, so a medieval church might look a bit haphazard. Now this isn't always a sure bet, some medieval churches were built quicker than others and with more of an attempt to harmonise the many additions. But its a generally safe guide.

[@jonleonard1555]

I see you labelled this as a [Long Shorts]. I believe Thor from Pirate Software had a similar idea, and just calls them [Pants].

[@TestUser-cf4wj]

Capris?

[@Steve-Fish]

Draper making me sound edumacated, always gets a thumb from me.

[@rpfree]

I just checked, nope, I'm still stupid.

[@movingforwardLDTH]

❤

[@daniellamcgee4251]

I don't think I am going to trust your opinion on that. What would you know?

[@betht60]

Our Washington National Cathedral, in Washington, D.C., is the sixth-largest Cathedral in the world, built using ancient methods in a Gothic style. Such buildings are few and far between here in America; I would treasure the history that is in the UK, everywhere one looks!

[@youremakingprogress144]

This is a lovely video. I like architecture, and these clear distinctions are helpful. Also, I just love your presentation style.

[@samiam6051]

If you really want to be insufferable. I highly recommend "Rices Language of Buildings" so you can point at every detail in a church or old building and comment on the finery of the string coursing, Mouchets and quoins.

[@ferretyluv]

That Henry VII chapel is GORGEOUS!

[@guy6353]

I just lost my job but watching your videos bring joy

[@daniellamcgee4251]

When one early English Early Gothic window is boarded up, a newer Decorated Gothic window opens to the world. ✨️

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

I love that your goal is for us to sound smart!😊

[@norm5785]

Thank you for sharing this information. These churches are just awesome pieces of history and very useful.

[@katebowers8107]

Draper: always sounds smart, always entertaining, always informative.

[@Rubrickety]

If I want to sound smart I just casually mention that I watch J. Draper videos. 😁

[@themessenger333]

So helpful as a short Hand guide. Thank you.

[@PeteG143]

Great explanation - thank you for that quick review.

[@no_siema_co_tam6650]

This gave me traumatic flashbacks to my History of Gothic Architecture final from about two months ago. Great work ;]

[@pavarottiaardvark3431]

then you can go to Old Aberdeen where it looks like several styles have been randomly slapped together.

[@charleston1789]

Awesome video. I have forgotten every bit of it already, but I enjoyed hearing you say it 😊

[@truefairytale164]

Please make a full length video on 'Lost rivers of London',,, we'd love it ❤❤❤❤❤

[@chuckboswell5173]

If I ever get an opportunity to see any of those places in person, I'll probably be too gobsmacked to speak, much less speak intelligently. I enjoy your videos, mam.

[@CorwinFound]

It gets a whole lot more complicated outside of the UK and Europe. I'm in west coast Canada and we have examples of all those church styles in my city... that's about 150 years old. In North America these styles are mimmics and mashed together all hodgepodge. A Mr. Potato Head style of "classic" architecture. Lol

[@Gfoot1]

If you want to sound smart about those, just slap a "neo-" in front of it or a "revival" after it, when it looks like only one of those old styles. Different styles mixed together? Call it "eclectic"!

[@CorwinFound]

@@Gfoot1 LMAO! Oh man, I'm so going to do that just to sound like a huge snob.

[@rifelaw]

There are churches that try to trick you about what they are. For example St. Severus in Boppard, BRD, is Romanesque, but if you walk inside, you'll see that the arches were painted to look Gothic.

[@christophersmith108]

Jenny, shut up - You had me at "It will make you look really smart..."

[@Chelm9]

If it has no windows, it’s probably a toilet.

[@daddymuggle]

Or a confessional.

[@lordhoot1]

You might have taken a wrong turn and ended up in the crypt

[@georgeb.wolffsohn30]

If there's a place to sit with a hole in the floor leading outside the building it's definitely a toilet.

[@sfs2040]

What if the bathroom has a stained glass window looking out over a public sidewalk?

[@daddymuggle]

@@sfs2040 then you're in the USA.

[@abchaplin]

Thanks for that primer. Some of it can be applied to Ontario church architecture, nearly all of which dates from after the mid-18th century and most of which was influenced by the Gothic revival. (It gets challenging as the Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists added themselves to the mix.) The architects in Ottawa had a real fascination with the Gothic, but largely applied it in government buildings. One trait I noticed about early 19th C. RC and Anglican churches is the difference in the angle at the peak of the roof: RCs tend to have a right angle and the Anglicans have an acute angle at about 60 degrees. The latter is more expensive as it takes more and longer timber and more roofing to cover the same size of nave, but it sheds snow better and tends to last longer.

[@ssgtmole8610]

Trusting in physics and sturdy construction as opposed to a god not sending enough snow to collapse the roof. 🤣

[@owencrater7089]

From castles to doghouses, if you do a vid, I'll try to see it. Love your work.

[@davidraynham1764]

Go forth and sound smart is a T-shirt waiting to happen

[@radiosnail]

Thankyou. Think I will save this for future reference

[@bumrocky]

"Go forth and sound smart!" Thank you for the useless trivia for when I visit! LOL

[@belindarichardson5349]

I always remember flying buttresses. For some reason I remember talking about them with my mum when I younger- I have no idea why. But that's all I know 😂 (she preferred architecture I think)

[@callabeth258]

I love it when you dress up fancy for videos

[@wolfzmusic9706]

I'm assuming this doesn't count for just regular churches? I went to a church built in 1272 I believe but it was just a small stone church, nothing too fancy. Still looked pretty cool and nice though!

[@lordhoot1]

It depends on what the parish could afford I suppose, but you can often still spot e.g. a Norman church.

[@wolfzmusic9706]

@lordhoot1 yup, that's true tbf. I don't remember what the windows looked like. It was just in a pretty small village though, rich village, but idk if it would've been rich in the 1200s ofc lol. Makes sense to not look super grand or anything.

[@happybat1977]

Incredibly helpful! Thank you!

[@SwampNymph522]

A Medieval Fair is an excellent way to celebrate your 40th birthday. Celebrate the start of middle age in the Middle Ages.

[@angusmacdonald7187]

I remember my first trip to England. Had, of course, go to Canterbury, like any good pilgrim, and while I loved the Gothic up above, it was those columns down below with their chevrons that really make me want to hug them. I am a sucker for the 10th-13th centuries ;-)

[@imbarmstrong]

I feel I can pretend to be so much smarter now! 😆

[@jeanping9739]

Was at St Albans in June and a more delightful patchwork of architecture you will never see!

[@Michael_Hester]

You see. This is a typical example of Decorated Gothic architecture. You can tell by that fancy bit...on top.😅 Curvilinear tracery sounds like a professorial cat call. "Nice buttress baby!" "Yeah, yous got some nice curvilinear tracery goin' on there." "Hehe yeah I wanna put a nave up in ya cloister, if ya catch my drift!" 😂

[@yef122]

😆😅🤣😂😜

[@daniellamcgee4251]

"Wow, that Flying Buttress was something! After that vault, you have me all fanned out on the ceiling, admiring your pendulum."

[@helenr4300]

love the brief summary

[@GeneCash]

The Episcopal church I grew up in was 100% early English, but made out of limestone & coquina ('cuz Florida) so it looks really weird

[@drwagner14]

fast, pointed, lovely.

[@stellangios]

0:45 always gotta watch out when they start doing weirder things inside the churches 👀

[@archivist17]

Especially in the sex party vaults! 😮

[@jamesmurphy9660]

you are truly brilliant, thank you !

[@kathilisi3019]

Just don't declare at the top of your voice that you love baroque buildings while taking a picture of a gothic cathedral. Failing to sound stupid is the first step to sounding smart.

[@magnusbane420]

*looks at my church in Germany* hmmm, it's probably a Norman church

[@daddymuggle]

Normanly we expect to find those in England, not Angleländ.

[@blindleader42]

AKA Romanesque. Them Brits gotta give their own names to things.

[@jeremywilliams5107]

Decorated baroque?

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

Fascinating. Thank you. 😊

[@robertwilson7532]

Excellent and amazing as always. I think I hear the cloister bell, (as I'm prone to mixing more than metaphors).

[@Arkelk2010]

My favorite English cathedral is in Peterborough. Noman nave through perpendicular Gothic along the sanctuary.

[@meganhartmann180]

OMG, from the front entrance looks like a copy of St. Mark's in Venice!! Very pretty., and a wonderful example of what a proper "university" church should look like, I think.

[@georgeb.wolffsohn30]

And some started out as normal but later were repaired in various Gothic styles.

[@oldhippy1947]

Since we Americans don't have anything that old, I have no way to show how smart I am. 😸

[@StrawberryAqua]

You can still find churches that recreate the style!

[@damienvalentine5043]

In the American Southwest, a lot of the older pueblos -- the ones built into cliffs and canyons and so on -- date to the same time as Europe's medieval cathedrals. While on the Mississippi and points east, you've got the various "mound-builder" sites. It's worth looking into!

[@DarinSimmons]

Ms Draper? (Raises hand high). What's that reference at the end? Could you please add it to the description.

[@amanda-we9fv]

@@DarinSimmons hope we're not asking for too much, for a sequel of this video explaining the parts of the church itself

[@DarinSimmons]

@@amanda-we9fv Yes! Like who does what where and why and of course some patented Draper stories about certain ones :)

[@robbabcock_]

Fascinating! I had no idea at all.

[@Leslie12.66]

You not only sound smart, you are!

[@AisleEpe-oz8kf]

Hope your books are selling well. Your attention to details are sweet. thanks

[@TheNewYear75]

always love your stuff

[@SisterSunny]

sounding smart!!! the most important part tbh

[@vonquestenberg]

Very interesting, thanks! In a semi-related question, I've seen/read UK period pieces where they've said something along the lines of, 'oh, so-and-so is chapel,' and I've always wondered what that meant. From the context I assumed it meant some form of Protestant that wasn't Anglican. Could someone explain better?

[@jeanping9739]

Chapel means Methodist! Methodists met in chapels, and they disapproved of very fancy decor.

[@jeremywilliams5107]

To add to the previous comment, "Non-conformist" was basically everything not Anglican, and tended to meet in chapels rather than churches. This ran from Puritans through Presbyterians to Plymouth Brethren, and more beside. Which one might be referred to as "chapel" might depend on the part of the country and the period, but Methodist is a good start.

[@daniellamcgee4251]

To add to the previous comments, Huguenots (Protestant refugees from France) also met in chapels.

[@meganhartmann180]

Love it! I wrote a paper about gothic church architecture for .... geometry class, I think? But, I definitely didn't learn these nitty-gritty terms. I think the perpendicular gothic style is bit too over-decorated for my taste. The middle two periods are more to my taste. And the early period style is my fav for the purposes of English/Scottish castle architecture. It would be lovely to have a second video explaining all the parts of a church/cathedral. (To help us all sound like pros, ya know).

[@ShahidKhan-ke8fe]

"It's a beautiful English Gothic church, but why did they build it so close to an airport?"

[@meganhartmann180]

Ha ha, touche. Could it be b/c, with the advent of air travel, a person could be transported just a little bit closer to God? *shrug*

[@fibonaccisrazor]

@@ShahidKhan-ke8fe I think it was because of the saints, being so busy with appointments it saves them a lot of time.

[@minui8758]

0:16 or Saxon!!! Brixworth and Earls Barton do exist… just cos there’s not many south of the M25 doesn’t mean they aren’t there

[@kerlyenai]

The first example of the developing "Gothic" architectural features is the St Denis Abbey in France. If anything it should be called French medieval and not "Gothic" (which was use as an insult to this very varied style during the Renaissance). The style at the time was sometimes known as opus Francigenum (lit. 'French work').

[@scottessery100]

I went to elly cathedral …. Unreal what they could build 800 yrs ago

[@LoriCiani]

Sorry to be a pain, but that’s Ely Cathedral, pronounced eely. I lived in the area for a while when my parents lived in Witchford.👍🏻

[@scottessery100]

@@LoriCianithat’s ok. I should have spotted the auto correct. It’s a beautiful building

[@scottessery100]

Thank you

[@weronikatrynkiewicz1196]

Ely Cathedral is great but if you ever get a chance I recommend visiting the Lincoln Cathedral. Stunning

[@LoriCiani]

@@weronikatrynkiewicz1196 I agree. Chester Cathedral is a bit of a TARDIS Cathedral, deceptively small on the outside. It has a lot of history. Like, the tower where history could have been changed if a sniper during the civil war had a better aim and killed Charles the first who was taking shelter in that tower instead of missing him. 🤔

[@MmmGallicus]

This is strictly English. In France, other catégories apply. Pre romanesque, romanesque, gothic, radiating gothic, flaming gothic, early Renaissance.

[@_oaktree_]

This whole channel is specific to England. I don't think you need to say that architectural periods specific to England don't apply to France.

[@meganhartmann180]

Yeah, French cathedrals are a bit different in some cases. But, one can also see major parallels in styles and architectural elements. Does anyone know whether then English went in big for gargoyles, like you see at Notre Dame etc.?

[@noelleggett5368]

A brilliant, simple and concise introduction to English architecture for the tourist. Next time I fly 24 hours to visit London, I know who I’d want as my guide. (And I’d definitely be looking forward to a fun evening at a cool, English pub after the tour, and seeing my tour guide sing on stage with the band.)

[@CAP198462]

Cathedral architecture is so rife with double entendres and potential for puns.

[@FreakyRufus]

So, memorize lots and lots of little details and you can fool people into thinking you know lots and lots of little details? Got it!

[@christabedwin]

Love it, another great clip! I'm curious about your outfit. What era? Did you find it (vintage maybe?) or did you make it?

[@hannahpeach8275]

Could you make a similar video about how to recognise the types of vaulted ceilings in churches please?

[@Peter-oh3hc]

I love when I can sound smart and don't actually have to be smart. Way too much work

[@chrisb508]

Thanks. Very useful.

[@josephradley3160]

"It needs to be pointy"

[@meganhartmann180]

Ha ha ha. ... and then later, oh wait. Not quuuiiite so pointy, eh?

[@sergiojuanmembiela6223]

This is why I have no friends...

[@daniellamcgee4251]

There are plenty of people interested in this sort of thing, hence this KZbin Short being created. Sometimes it takes time, and a bit of effort to find your people.

[@kasondaleigh]

😂😂😂

[@patriciahowellcassity767]

Love you 🥰

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Considering that I don't have a posh accent, I need all the help I can get to sound smart. Thanks, J

[@Weirdkauz]

Strange! Just now, walking my dog in the night, I passed by the church and was imagining someone asking me if it was romanic or gothic, bc. i once studied art and should know, and I realised how easy it would be to memorise which is which... so I could sound smart, no more, bc, I still wouldn't know why the goths are pointed and the romanics aren't, and what further meaning this had in the grand scheme of things...

[@LudvigIndestrucable]

I loved this video, but i think actually saying this Infront of people will lose me a few friends.

[@helenr4300]

Any interest in the development of the chapel ( non conformist) styles - from very simple preaching houses; to very classical frontages; to we are as good as the parish - high church looking interiors; to the pragmatic like the Methodist Central Halls, (esp around 1900- 1920s) some with rented out shopfronts, and concert type auditoriums, with the idea of becoming a focal place for their communities and the rented out shopfronts supporting the ongoing church work with homeless or other marginalised groups. Each version having very different layouts; whilst eg Cof E kept to a more historic pattern.

[@kasondaleigh]

You sound so smart 😂

[@lukijez]

I now sound smart thanks

[@jonathanraithel5726]

Having gotten a final grade of 123.5% in my college architecture history (part 1), I approve.

[@Stand663]

You forget one style is Catholic, the other Protestant after the reformation.

[@PeterDebney]

@Stand663 and the English Civil War / Puritan movement affected church architecture even more. Not just stopping them but also active destruction of decorations and stained glass windows.

[@daniellamcgee4251]

I am pretty sure J. Draper hasn't forgotten. There is only so much info. that can be crammed into an entertaining and informative KZbin Short, without it being overwhelming.

[@BeerMatt96]

( 1:42 - The Elizabeth Tower. 😎 )

[@madderhat5852]

So why is it that when ever I got into one of these it catches fire? Is that the style nowadays?

[@SAOS451316]

How was your visit to Paris otherwise?

[@kellydalstok8900]

We visited York Minster two days before the fire broke out. Went on a day trip to Scarborough so we didn’t know about it until we noticed the headlines on the front pages of commuter’s newspapers on the way back. Apparently god doesn’t like churches very much.

[@icantfinkofname]

Play Warhammer 40k and then you'll know what Gothic architecture is lol

[@angusmacdonald7187]

LOL! Too true!

[@2adamast]

Outside England you may not sound that smart.

[@alowry2002]

Thank you

[@maxhatter1]

No thanks 😂 I had to learn a bunch of Early Christian churches by their floord plan for an exam. That enough church for me.

[@lakshmimohan6467]

Why am i not able see the video just audio. Is it just me?

[@lupakajsalisa3652]

It's just you I'm afraid

[@lakshmimohan6467]

Thanks probably was some network issue. 😊Its fine now.

[@lupakajsalisa3652]

@@lakshmimohan6467 Glad to hear it 😁

[@tilkomp]

YOU DONT EBEN KNOW MY OBBSESSION WITH ENGLAND GOTHIC

[@HighWealder]

'English '? 'Gothic'? See my comment above.

[@jimnelsen2064]

So in other words, you should probably just learn a little bit about church architecture and then you will actually be the most knowledgeable person in the room. Probably.

[@meganhartmann180]

Quite possibly,. Well, except for the tour guide. Best not try to "best" that person. He he

[@Vinemaple]

[OSP Blue has entered the chat]

[@verenakremer6748]

I only just realized that there's no Baroque in England... why is that? Is it because Baroque was perpetuated mostly by Catholics?

[@elongated_muskrat_is_my_name]

I think at that point we had a kind of neoclassical vibe going on. Like st martin in the fields. I get the impression it ties into the whole enlightenment and anti-catholicism thing.