The early church had no grand edifices. Believers met in homes and private remote outdoor spaces. For nearly 300 years, many Christians persecuted by Rome met in the catacombs. Again, they did not need all the trappings of a medieval or modern church building. Their faith was not in the beauty or craftsmanship of a building. Their faith was in the living God, the Word shared among them and the Holy Spirit who lived in them. The CHURCH was them!
Now is this to say there is no place for a cathedral or modern church building. Absolutely not! Cathedrals (old and new) and modern church buildings allow a large group of Believers to gather in one place. Art work of various kinds can transmit the gospel. I think of the Stations of the Cross we see in Catholic churches. They communicate the story of Christ's passion.
I know my Catholic and Orthodox friends will disagree but if we venerate art work, buildings and relics and fail to understand that the church is the body of Believers - we are missing it. The church is Christ in us. If we've elevated 'things' to be our 'church', again we are missing it!
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. " - 1 Peter 2:5
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” - Acts 2: 46
But I will differ from the false dichotomy implied in this sentence:
"I know my Catholic and Orthodox friends will disagree but if we venerate art work, buildings and relics and fail to understand that the church is the body of Believers - we are missing it."
I have had the privilege of knowing both church-builders and artists who glorify God and serve Him diligently with their arts which honor His goodness, truth and beauty.
If one risk is of making physical, tangible beauty an end in itself, the opposite but equal risk is to denigrate God by implying that He does not deserve the best we can give.
Don't forget that when a woman anointed the feet of Jesus with rare perfumed oil, Jesus accepted that as just: and the only one who was clearly annoyed with it was Judas the Thief.