Descriptionary

basilica an elongated church with a central high nave with clerestory, side aisles, and a semicircular apse.

bell canopy a gable roof that shelters a bell.

bell cot a small belfry astride the ridge of a roof.

bell gable a roof-ridge turret holding one or more bells.

bellhouse a tower holding a bell. belltower any tall structure containing a bell. benitier a basin for holy water.

bestiary in a medieval church, a group of painted or sculpted creatures.

bethel a chapel for seamen.

box pew a pew enclosed by a high back and sides.

calvary sculptures, often life-size, depicting the Cru­cifixion.

Calvary cross a Latin cross set on three steps. cantoria a choir gallery. carrel a pew in a monastery.

catacumba the atrium or courtyard of a basilican church.

cathedral the home church of a bishop.

Catherine wheel window a large circular, orna­mental window at the front of many cathedrals. Also known as a rose window.

Celtic cross a tall cross with short horizontal arms partially enclosed by a circle.

chatya a Buddhist sanctuary.

chancel the sanctuary of a church, or the space near the altar reserved for the clergy and choir.

chancel arch in some churches, an arch that divides the chancel from the nave.

chancel screen a screen separating the chancel from the nave.

chapel a small church or parish or a room or build­ing set apart for worship within a school, college, hospital, or other institution. Also, an area within a church set aside for private prayer.

chapel royal the chapel of a royal palace or castle.

chevet an apse surrounded by an ambulatory.

choir between the nave and the sanctuary, the area occupied by the clergy and choir.

choir loft a balcony occupied by the choir.

choir stall seating for choir and clergy.

choraula a rehearsal room for the choir.

chrismatory a niche holding the consecrated oil for baptism near the font.

church stile an old term for pulpit.

cimeliarch a treasury where holy objects and other valuables are stored in a church.

clausura the part of a monastery or convent occu­pied by the monks or nuns and closed to the public.

clerestory the windowed, upper portion of the nave, transepts, and choir; any upper wall windowed for light and ventilation.

cloister a place devoted to religious seclusion, as a monastery or convent. Also, a covered walk sur­rounding an open courtyard, used as a link between buildings in a monastery.

cloister garth the courtyard surrounded by a cloister.

confessional the private booth where a priest sits and listens to confessions from the penitent.

convent a community of nuns; a nunnery.

credence near the altar, a shelf or stand for holding holy objects, service books, and other objects.

crowde a cellar or crypt of a church.

cruciform in the shape of a cross, as many Gothic churches whose nave, chancel, and apse intersect with the transepts.

crypt an underground or partially underground level containing separate chapels or, sometimes, tombs.

double monastery a monastery and a convent shar­ing the same church and authority.

duomo an Italian cathedral.

east end where the main altar is located, a tradition of medieval churches.

ecclesiology the study of the decoration and archi­tecture of churches.

epistle side the south side of a church when the main altar is at the east end, the side the epistle is read from.

esonarthex when present, the second narthex from the entrance.

expiatory chapel a chapel erected to atone for a great crime, such as a murder.

fauwara in the court of a mosque, a fountain.

feretory a space where church relics are kept.

font the stone basin that holds water for baptism.

frater house a common eating hall in a monastery.

galilee a chapel for worship at the west side of a church.

galilee porch a galilee acting as a vestibule to the main church.

garbha-griha the darkened sanctuary where the statue of a deity is placed in a Hindu temple.

glory the halo and radiance surrounding the head of a religious figure in a painting.

Gospel side the north side of the church when the main altar is in the east, where the Gospel is read.

hall church a church without clerestories, having an interior of more or less uniform height, as a hall.

high altar the main altar.

inner sanctum the most sacred of places.

interstitium the crossing of a cruciform church.

jami a mosque specially designed for large congre­gations.

kubba a dome in a mosque.

Lady chapel at the east end of a church, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.