The Beginning of Gothic Architecture: The Church…

The Beginning of Gothic Architecture: The Church of Sens (1140 CE)

• In the same year that Abelard was condemned, construction began on the new cathedral at Sens, one of the first churches designed in the emerging Gothic style.
• This marked the transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture, with Sens Cathedral incorporating:
  • Pointed arches for greater height and structural flexibility.
  • Ribbed vaults to distribute weight more efficiently.
  • Larger clerestory windows, allowing for an abundance of natural light.

The 1140 Council of Sens was thus a turning point both intellectually and architecturally:

• It marked the defeat of Abelard’s rationalist theology at the hands of Bernard’s mystical faith-driven approach.
• It also saw the beginning of Gothic architecture, a movement that would reshape the visual and spiritual experience of medieval Christianity for centuries to come.