Final answer:
The Abbey church of St. Denis was rebuilt by Abbot Suger, starting around 1135. He was responsible for initiating the Gothic architectural style, characterized by lightness and height reflecting divine grandeur. His work influenced Gothic architecture development across Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Abbey church of St. Denis in 1140 was rebuilt by Abbot Suger, who was the Abbot of Saint Denis from 1122. He initiated the work around 1135, aiming to transform the church into a structure that would honor the royalty buried there, and reflect the glory of God. The resulting architecture marked the birth of the Gothic style, characterized by features like pointed arches, vaults, and the extensive use of stained glass, allowing for more light and grandeur, symbolizing the divine. Though Suger was the patron, the actual construction was executed by two master masons whose identities remain unknown but whose styles are distinct. Suger's work at Saint Denis not only affected French architecture but also inspired Gothic architectural developments across Europe.
Abbot Suger's vision and patronage of the rebuilding of Saint Denis were completed with the western extension in 1140, and consecrated on June 9 of that year. His efforts extended to the reconstruction of the eastern end, focusing on creating a magnificent choir (chancel) and ambulatory that emphasized the aura of the spiritual and the earthly power of the French monarchy.