Page "Church (building)" Paragraph 14

During the 11th through 14th centuries, a wave of building of cathedrals and smaller parish churches occurred across Western Europe.

In addition to being a place of worship, the cathedral or parish church was used by the community in other ways.

It could serve as a meeting place for guilds or a hall for banquets.

Mystery plays were sometimes performed in cathedrals, and cathedrals might also be used for fairs.

The church could be used as a place to thresh and store grain.