List of church architecture terms

List of church architecture terms. The terms used in church architecture were developed first for the Gothic architecture cathedrals of the mediaeval era. The terms, with variations, are used for all kinds of Christian churches.

Rood screen: used for dividing the chancel from the nave

Ornate choir stalls at Buxheim

Cloister and arcades

Horizontal layout

• Nave, where the congregation sits.
  • Aisles round the edges. The aisles may be quite grand, major features of the cathedral.
• The transept makes the cross shape.
  • The crossing is where the transept crosses the nave.
• The quire (choir) is the area between the nave and the 'sacred' area (the presbytery and sanctuary). The quire is separated from the nave by a 'rood screen'. It often has choir stalls where members of the choir sit.
• Liturgical east end:
  • The presbytery is where the priest(s) conduct liturgy, such as Mass.
  • The sanctuary, not pictured here, is where the altar is.
  • The ambulatory (from the Latin 'to walk'), space for walking, with radiating chapels around the outer wall of the ambulatory.

Other terms

• Altar: any structure where offerings are made for religious purposes.
• Apse: round (hemi-spherical) part at east end of church.
• Chancel: space around the altar
• Lancet window: tall, thin window, often pointed at top.
• Reredos: decorated screen behind altar
• Rood screen or chancel screen: decorated screen which divides the chancel from the nave.