Big churches are called Cathedrals. Although the owners of these cathedrals were monasteries, many people took part in their construction. They helped the construction by giving money, labour or material. The Cathedrals were built with stones. It took years to complete the work. As the construction was in progress, the areas around it were occupied by more and more people who came to live there. Some of , the cathedrals became pilgrimage centers. Around them, townships came up.