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GlossaryofChurchArchitecture

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GlossaryofChurchArchitecture
Clickontheboldhighlightedwordstodisplayaphotographoftherelevantitem.
Placemouseoveritalicisedhighlightedwordtodisplayadefinitionoftherelevantitem.
AisleAnextensiontothesideofthenaveorchancelseparatedoffbyanarcade.Sometimeusedforthe
passagewaysbetweentheseating.SeeAlley.
AlleyThepassagewaysbetweenblocksofpews.
AltarTheceremonialtableatwhichtheEucharist(Mass,HolyCommunion)iscelebrated.Maybemadeof
woodorstone.
AltarpieceApieceofartplacedonthewallbehindthealtar(seeReredos)Inthe18thcentury,thesetook
theformoflargeclassicalstylescreens.
AltarfrontalAclothorembroideryhangingfordecoratingthefrontofthealtar.
ApexTheapexofanarchisitshighestpoint.
ArcadeAseriesofarcheslikeapiercedwall,separatingoffanarea.SeeWallArcadeorBlindArcade
AumbryAcupboard.IntheMiddleAgesusedtostorethecommunionvessels.Since1900,insomechurches,
usedforkeepingthereservedsacrament.SeeTabernacle.
ArchBracedRoofCurvedpairofroofbracesforminganarchwhichCONNECT thewall(orpost)belowwith
tiebeamorcollarbeamabove.
AshlarThinslabsoffreestoneusedasfacing
BaldachinoAcanopyoverthealtar,supportedoncolumns,sometimescalledaciborium.
BarrelVault.Formofvaultmadeupofcontinuoussemicircularorpointedarch.
BattlementedParapetAparapetwithcrenellationsorbattlementsi.ewithalternateraisedorlowered
sections.Maybecalledcrenellatedorcastellated.
Bayadivisionofachurchorroof,usuallymarkedbyarcadearchesorrooftrusses.
BeamLongthickpieceofwoodormetalorconcrete,etc.,usedinconstruction.SeeTieBeam&CollarBeam.
BelfryAroomorstructureinwhichbellsarehung,usuallypartofachurchtower.
BlindorWallArcadeAnarcadebuiltflatagainstawall,asadecorativefeature.
BlindTraceryTraceryAPPLIED toasolidwall.
BossAnornamentalknobcoveringtheintersectionofribsinavaultoronaceiling.
BoxpewThetruepew.Surroundedbywoodenpanelling,andwithalockabledoor.AbbreviationforHorseBox
Pew.
BoxtombAcheststylemonument.Theinteriorisahollowcavity,andthebodyisburiedunderground.May
alsobecalledachesttomb.
BraceAsupportingbeamthatsteadiesorholdssomethingelseerect.
Brokenpedimentapedimentwheretheapexismissing.
ButtressMasonrybuiltagainstawalltogiveextrastrength,andtodistributethedownwardthrust.SeeFlying
Buttress.

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CandelabrumLargebranchedcandlestick.Maybefreestandingorhungfromtheroof.
CapitalsTheheadofacolumn,pillar,orpilaster.Theformofthecapitalisoftenagoodguidetoitsdate
CastellatedParapetAparapetwithcrenellationsorbattlementsi.ewithalternateraisedorloweredsections.
Maybecalledbattlementedorcrenellated.
ChancelThepartofthechurchattheeastend,wherethealtarstandsandwheretheclergysit.
ChancelScreenAscreendividingthechancelfromthenaveanothertermforRoodScreen.
ChantrychapelAchapelinwhichmassesweresaidforthesoulofitsfounder.
Chapel(sidechapel)Anareaofachurchwithitsownaltar,originallyforthecultofasaintotherthanthe
patronsaint.Maybeanextension,orsimplyscreenedoffwithparcloses.
ChestTombChestshapedtombusuallyofstone.Mayalsobecalledaboxtomb
ChoirStallsSeatingrunningeastwestinthechancelorcrossing,wherethechoirsits.
Ciborium(1)Anothernameforbaldachino(2)achalicelikevesselwithalid,usedforthebreadatthe
Eucharist.
ClerestoreyUpperstoreyofthenavewallrisingabovetheaisleroof.Piercedbywindowstolightthe
nave.Mayalsobefoundinthechancel
CollarBeamAstructurecomponenttopreventroofspreadingbytyingtogetheropposingsetsofroofrafters.
SeeBeam.
CommunionRailsRailsinfrontofthealtaratwhichthecongregationkneelstoreceivecommunion.First
introducedinthe16thcentury.
CorbelBlockofstoneBONDED intoawalleitherinsideorout,supportingtheendofabeam,orastatue.
CorbelTableSeriesofcorbels,justbelowtheroofeaves.Usedtocarryaparapet,awallplateorwallpost.
CourseContinuouslayerinawalle.g.layerofstones.SeeStringCourse&ZigzagCourse
CrenellatedParapetAparapetwithcrenellationsorbattlementsi.ewithalternateraisedorloweredsections.
Maybecalledbattlementedorcastellated.
CrossingTheareainthecentreofacruciformchurch,wheretheeastwestandnorthsoutharmscross.
CruciformCrossshaped,oftenofachurchfloorplan.
Cuspspointedprojectionsinwindowtraceryorinarches.
DecalogueThetencommandments
DecoratedWhencapitalised,Decoratedreferstoastyleofarchitecturedatingfromthelate13thtothemid
14thCentury,characterisedbyelaboratewindowtraceryandtallcolumns.RepresentsthemiddleoftheGothic
period
Dormer(window)Aformofwindowpushedupthroughtherooflinetobringextralightintothetopofa
building.
EarlyEnglishAnarchitecturalstyledatingfromthelate12thtothelate13thcentury,characterisedbythe
earliestuseofpointedarchesandrepresentingthebeginningoftheGothicperiod
FanVaultFormofvaultmadeupofhalvedconcavemasonryconesdecoratedwithblindtracery.
FlushworkDecorativepatternsinflintflatagainstlimestone,brickorcarrstone,usedtodecoratetheoutside
ofsomechurches
FlyingButtressAbuttresswhichstandsawayfromitsbuilding,andisattachedtoitbyabridge.
FontContainerusedfortheconsecratedwaterusedinbaptism
FreestoneStonewhichcanbeeasilyworked,usuallyooliticlimestone,orsandstone.Ithasafinegrain,and
maybe'freelyworked'withmetaltools.ThinslabsoffreestoneusedasfacingarecalledAshlar.
GalleryBalconyoverlookingthemaininteriorspaceofabuilding.Usuallyatthewestendofachurch,but
someoccurinthesideaisles.Generallyputupinthe16thto18thcenturies,andremovedinthelate19th.

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GallettingSmallpiecesofflintinsertedintothemortarbetweenthelargeflints.
GargoyleAprojectingstone,ususallycarvedinagrotesquemanner,whichthrowsrainwaterawayfromthe
wallsandfootingsofachurch
GothicArt,architectureordecorationstylesdatingfromaftertheNormanperiodbutbeforetherenaissance.
GothickAn18thcenturyrevivalversionofthemedievalgothicstyle,sometimescalledStrawberryHillGothic.
Itpredatesthe19thcenturyGothicRevivalstyle.
GothicRevivalA19thcenturyrevivalversionofthemedievalGothicstyle.SometimescalledVictorianGothic.
Datesfromapproximately1840toWW1.
GrotesqueDecorationwhicheitherinterweaveshumanandanimalformwithvegetation,orconsistsofa
comicallydistortedface
GradineAshelfbehindthealtar,usuallypartofthereredos,onwhichthecrossandcandlesticksstand.
HagioscopeInawallusuallytoallowsightofthealtar.AlsocalledSquint
HammerbeamAnabbreviatedtiebeam
HatchmentAdiamondshapedpanelshowingthecoatofarmsofadeceasedperson.Oftendisplayedhighon
thechurchwall
HeadstopAcarvingattheendofahoodmould,oftentakingtheformofahead.
HighAltarThemainaltarinachurchatwhichtheEucharist(Mass,HolyCommunion)iscelebrated.Maybe
madeofwoodorstone.
HoodmouldProjectingmouldingaboveanarchorlintelusedtothrowoffwater.
HorseBoxpewThetruepew.Surroundedbywoodenpanelling,andwithalockabledoor.Maybeabbreviated
toBoxPew.
IncumbentTheclericinchargeofachurch.MaybecalledRector,Vicar,orPriestinCharge.
KnappedFlintsFlintswhichhavebeenbrokenopentoexposethedarkinterior,andthencuttoshapee.g
theymaybesquared.
LecternAdeskfromwhichreadingsaregiven.Oftentaketheformofabrasseagle.
LierneVaultAformoftierceronvaultwithsubsidiaryribs(liernes)runningbetweenthetierceronsandmain
ribs,makingpatterns
LightAverticaldivisionofawindow.
LongandshortworkAmethodofformingquoinsbyplacinglongnarrowblocksofstonealternatelywiththin
wideones.CharacteristicofAngloSaxonstylemasonry.
MisericordShelfonacarvedbracketplacedontheundersideofahingedchoirstallseat.Supportsan
occupantwhenstanding.Oftenbearsinterestingcarvings.
MullionTheuprightinawindowdividesthewindowintoanumberoflights.
NarthexAnareaatthewestendofthenave.
NaveThemainbodyofthechurch,wherethecongregationsits.
OgeeorOgiveAdoubleSshapedcurve.Usedasanarchforminthe14thcentury.SeeReticulated.
OrientationAchurchisassumedtohaveitsaltarattheeastend.Mostdeviatefromtrueeasttosomedegree
northorsouth.
ParapetAraisedrimaroundtheedgeofaroof.SeeCastellatedParapet,BattlementedParapetorCrenellated
Parapet.
ParclosescreenAscreenthatenclosesasidechapelwithinthechurch.
Patron(1)Thepatronsaintofachurch(2)thepersonorcorporationwiththerighttoappointtheincumbent.
ParviseTheroomoveraporch.
PedimentAtriangularorsometimecurvedheadtopanellingusedin18thcenturyaltarpieces.SeeBroken
Pediment.
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PerpendicularAnarchitecturalstyledatingfromthemid14thtothelate16thcentury,characterisedby
mullionsreachingtothetopofwindows,andbythedevelopmentoffan
vaulting.RepresentsthelastpartoftheGothicperiod.
PewsSeatingforthelaityoutsidethechancel.Whatareusuallycalledpewsareinfactbenches.SeeBoxPew
andReadingPew.
PiersAnothernameforpillar.
PilasterVeryshallowbuttress,whichhasnostructuraluseitarticulatesthebuildingontheoutside.
PinnaclesProjectingpointsatthecornersofatower,oralongaparapet,ortoppingoffabuttress.
PiscinaRecessinthewallnearanaltar,withadrain,forwashingthecommunionvessels.
PlinthAsolidbaseonwhichsomethingstands.
PorchCoveredapproachtoentranceofbuildingintheMiddleAgesusedforweddings.
PulpitAstructureforthePriesttospeakfrom,raisedabovethecongregation.SeeThreeDeckerPulpit.
PyxAvesselfortheconsecratedbread.InmediaevalEnglishchurches,apyxhangingoverthealtarwasused
forthereservedsacrament.
QuatrefoilAfourlobedshape.
QuoinsStonesformingtheexternalanglesofawall.
RaftersThemainstructuraltimbersinaroof.arecalledprincipalrafters.Theoneswhichfillgapsbetweenare
thecommonrafters.
ReadingPeworDeskAseatwithadeskfromwhichtheserviceisread,usuallyinthenave.
ReredosAscreenordecorationbehindthealtarinachurch,usuallycontainingreligiousimages.Oftenpainted
wood,butmaybecarved,gilded,etc.Sometimesatapestry,orotherfabricisused.
ReservedsacramentThebreadconsecratedattheEucharist,andkeptforusewiththesick.
ReticulatedAnetlikeformofoftracerymadeupofogees.
ReturnStallsStallsinthechancelwhichrunalongthebackofthescreenfacingeast.
RibVaultAvaultinwhichthesectionsaremarkedoutbyraisedstoneribs.
RomanesqueThearchitectureoftheAngloSaxonandNormanstyles,c600c1100.
RoodThecrucifixattheentrancetothechancel.Usuallystoodonabeam,withattendantfiguresofStMary
andStJohn.Somemodernversionsaresuspended,especiallywherethereisnoscreen.
RoodDadoThesolidbottomhalfoftheRoodScreen,occasionallysurvivingaloneaftertherestisremoved.
RoodLoftAgalleryatthetopoftheroodscreen,usedforaccesstothelampsburningbeforetheRood.
Sometimesusedforpartsoftheliturgy.
RoodScreenAscreendividingtheNavefromtheChancel,toppedwithaRood.
RoodStairAstairforaccesstotheRoodLoft.
RoodStairTurretContainsthestairtotheRoodLoft.
SanctuaryAreaaroundthemainaltarofthechurch,withinthecommunionrails.
ScreenApiercedbarrier,oftencarvedwood,dividingaspacebutallowingvisionthroughtoanotherarea.
SediliaAsetofonetothreerecessesinthechancelwall,usedasseatsfortheclergyduringMass.
SideAltarAnaltarinasidechapel
SoundHoleAsquarestonepiercedwithtracery.Supposedtoletthesoundofthebellsout,butactuallyto
ventilatethechamberbelowthebelfry.
SpandrelThespacebetweenanarchanditssurround.Inaroof,thespacebetweenabraceandarafter

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SpringingsThespringingofanarchisthepointwhereitleavesthepillarorwall.
SquintAholeinawallusuallytoallowsightofthealtar.AlsocalledHagioscope
StrapworkAformofdecorationwhichoriginatedintheNetherlandsc1540,andcharacteristicofthe
ElizabethanandJacobeanperiods.Itconsistsofinterlacedbandsorstraps,andmaybeexecutedinstone,
wood,orplaster
StringCourseHorizontalcourseormouldingprojectingfromthesurfaceofawall.
TabernacleAboxtoholdthereservedsacrament,whichstandsonthealtar.SeeAumbry.
TesterAflat,horizontalcanopy.Maybeaboveanaltar,oroverapulpit,whenitiscalledasoundingboard.
ThreedeckerpulpitAstructurecombiningapulpit,areadingpew,andtheclerksdesk.
TieBeamAhorizontalbeamusedtopreventtwootherstructuralmembersfromspreadingapart.See
Hammerbeam.
TierceronVaultAribvaultwithsubsidiary(tierceron)ribs.
TraceryOpenworkpatternofmasonryorwoodintheupperpartofanopeninge.gwindoworscreen.SeeBlind
Tracery,YTracery,Reticulated.
TranseptPartofachurchbuiltatrightanglestothemainstructure.Maybeaddedtoanexistingchurch,orbe
partofacruciformbuilding.
TrefoilAthreelobedshape.
TrussSupportingstructureorframework.
TurretAsmalltower.Inparishchurchestheyoftencontainstaircases.
Vault(1)Archedstoneroof(2)aburialchamber.SeeBarrelVault,FanVault,RibVault,TierceronVault
VestryAroominwhichvestmentsarekept,butalsousedformostparishbusiness
VictorianGothicA19thcenturyrevivalversionofthemedievalGothicstyle.SometimescalledGothicRevival.
Datesfromapproximately1840toWW1.
WallorBlindArcadeAnarcadebuiltflatagainstawall,asadecorativefeature
YTraceryTracerywithmullionsbranchingintoaYshape
ZigzagCourseCoursewithabruptalternaterightandleftturns

FormoreindepthinformationpleaserefertoourBibilographypage.

ChurchesMANAGED byNHCTarehighlightedininboldbelow.Clicktovisitachurch.
AllSaintsWestlegate
St.Andrew
St.Augustine
St.Benedict
St.Clement
St.EdmundFishergate
St.Etheldreda
St.GeorgeColegate

St.GeorgeTombland
St.Giles
St.Gregory
St.Helen
St.JamesPockthorpe
St.JohndeSepulchre
St.JohnMaddermarket
St.JohnTimberhill

St.Julian
St.Lawrence
St.Margaret
St.MartinatOak
St.MartinatPalacePlain
St.MaryCoslany
St.MarytheLess
St.Michael(Miles)Coslany

St.MichaelatPlea
St.PeterHungate
St.PeterMancroft
St.PeterParmentergate
St.Saviour
St.Simon&St.Jude
St.Stephen
St.Swithin

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