Church Architecture Facts

Altar - the holiest part of a church. In medieval times the altar was a table or rectangular sheets made of stone or marble, often on a raised step. After the Reformation stone altars were replaced by wooden communion tables.

Ambulatory - a covered passage behind the altar, linking it with chapels at the eastern end of the church.

Apse - the domed or vaulted east end of the church. In the United Kingdom apse are generally squared off, while you're on the continent, rounded apses were common. 

Baptistery - the font was stored and the baptism was performed, generally near the west door. Sometimes a screen or grille separates the baptistery from the nave.

Bay - a vertical division, usually marked by vertical shafts or supporting columns.

Bell Tower - a tower where bells were installed. This could be separated from the church, or, more commonly, attached. Sometimes called a free-standing bell tower.

Choir - the eastern end of a church.

Arch Choir - arch separates the choir from the nave or crossing.

Choir Screen - a screen dividing the chancel and nave and crossing.

Chapel - a small building or room set aside for worship. Large churches and cathedrals can have many chapels dedicated to different saints. A Chantry Chapel is a special chapel where prayers for the dead said.

Chapter House - a special room or house where the governing body of a monastery and cathedral met. In the United Kingdom, is the chapter house is generally polygonal in shape with a slender central column supporting the roof.

Chev - the style of construction to create ambulatory and radiating chapels in the east of a church.

Choir (should) - whose services are sung, or, more generally, the eastern part of a church. 

Clerestory - the upper story of a church where it rises above the aisle roof. Window openings allow extra light into the interior of the church.

Confessio - A niche for relics located near the altar.

Crossing - the area where the choir, ship, and transepts meet.

Crypt - A vaulted chamber to house tombs and relics, generally located under the choir. Many crypts were very large, so the number of pilgrims access.

Font - one container generally of stone, which contained holy water for baptism. Usually located near the west door, sometimes the fonts had elaborately carved wooden canopy.

Galilee - a porch at the western end of the church, used as a chapel for men or penitents. Sometimes the word refers to the entire western end of the nave.

Greek-cross plan - the style of the church with four equal arms.

 

Latin-cross plan - the church level with one arm longer than the three others.

Lectern - a reading desk, often in the form of an eagle to hold the Bible during services. Usually made of brass.

Misericord - from the Latin word for "grace" comes this expression, whereas pivoting wooden brackets in choir stalls are lifted up to provide relief to the priests who had to stand in long religious services. Misericords is often ornately carved and decorative. 

Nave - the western part of the church where the congregation stood.

Orientation - the compass alignment of the church. The altar is usually directed towards the east.

Pew - wooden seats or benches in the church. Benches only occurred in the late Middle Ages. Often chairs were still carved bench-ends, and were carved with animals and foliage designs.

Pulpit - a raised stand from which the preacher addresses the congregation. Usually reached step or stairs, often covered by a canopy carved.

Reredos - a decorative screen behind the altar, usually highly carved.

Affirmative - a ledge behind, or linked to the high altar, where the jewelry was located. 

Retro-choir - the area immediately behind the high altar.

Rood - an intersection that is at the entrance to the choir. Rood often had figures of the Virgin Mary on one side and St. John on the other.

Rood Loft - gallery rood is supported.

Rood screen - a screen built into the rood loft.

Sacristy - a separate room for storage of sacred vessels.

 

Sanctuary - the high altar is located. The holiest part of the church.

Boder - split in the choir, where clergy sat (or stood) during service. Stalls are often richly carved and fitted with misericords to help pastors be comfortable during long services.

Stoup - a container of holy water near the west door. Can be built into the wall or freestanding.

Cross arms - the crossing arms of the church, generally aligned north-south.

Triforium - a galleried arcade on the second floor level, even with the aisle roof. Also called a "dead history" - the Triforium resembles a series of window frames without window openings.

Sacristy - spaces where clergy and choir dress and regalia observed.