loft. noun. an upper floor built out from the wall in a church, where the organ is often found.
What is the top part of a church called?
The chancel is the most holy part of the church, and this is why it is often separated from the nave by a screen which can be made of wood or stone, or occasionally iron. The congregation can see through the screen. On the top of the screen there may be a cross. This is called a rood (pronounce like “rude”) screen.
What is the balcony in a church called?
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building.
What are the four parts of the church?
The words one, holy, catholic and apostolic are often called the four marks of the Church.
What are the three parts of the church?
the Church Triumphant, which consists of those who have the beatific vision and are in Heaven. These divisions are known as the “three states of the Church,” especially within Catholic ecclesiology.
What are the two sides of the church called?
The Gospel side is the other side of the chancel, where the Gospel is read. Facing the altar from the nave, it is the left-hand side. In some places, especially if a comment is based on a romance language source, the Gospel side will be cited as the Evangelist side.
What is the ceiling of a church called?
Vault (architecture) – Wikipedia.
What makes up a church?
A church (or local church) is a religious organization or congregation that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by clergy or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek non-profit corporate status.
What is the room behind the altar called?
sacristy, also called vestry, in architecture, room in a Christian church in which vestments and sacred objects used in the services are stored and in which the clergy and sometimes the altar boys and the choir members put on their robes.
What is a vestibule in a church?
A vestibule is a little area just inside the main door of a building, but before a second door. You often find vestibules in churches, because they help keep heat from escaping every time someone enters or exits.
What are the seats in a church called?
What Are Church Chairs Called? Church chairs are commonly called “pew chairs,” especially if they interlock to form continuous rows. They may also be called worship chairs or sanctuary seating. But many people just refer to them as church chairs.
What is the chancel of a church?
chancel, portion of a church that contains the choir, often at the eastern end. Before modern changes in church practice, only clergy and choir members were permitted in the chancel.
Where is the altar in a church?
In traditional cruciform churches the altar stands in the middle of the east wall, at the top of the cross shaped building. The east wall location was originally chosen as it is the most holy part of the church – this is because the sun rises in the east and it was seen as symbolic of the resurrection .
What is the pulpit area of a church called?
Location of pulpit and lectern
Often, the one on the left (as viewed by the congregation) is called the pulpit. Since the Gospel lesson is often read from the pulpit, the pulpit side of the church is sometimes called the gospel side.
Why do churches have Spires?
spire, in architecture, steeply pointed pyramidal or conical termination to a tower. In its mature Gothic development, the spire was an elongated, slender form that was a spectacular visual culmination of the building as well as a symbol of the heavenly aspirations of pious medieval men.
What is a chapel or porch at the entrance of a church called?
narthex, long, narrow, enclosed porch, usually colonnaded or arcaded, crossing the entire width of a church at its entrance.
What is the difference between a narthex and vestibule?
A vestibule is a passage, hall, or room between the outer door and the interior of a building, whereas the narthex is a porch or lobby that connects the outside to the main worship area.
What is a prayer room called?
A multifaith space or multifaith prayer room is a quiet location set aside in a busy public place (hospital, university, airport, etc.) where people of differing religious beliefs, or none at all, are able to spend time in contemplation or prayer.
What are the main types of church?
Types. Though each church or denomination has its own characteristic structure, there are four general types of polity: episcopal, connexional, presbyterian, and congregational.
What are the key architectural features of a church?
The architecture is usually grand with vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, columns, pointed arches, and large stained glass windows.
What is the area around the altar?
The crossword clue Area around the altar with 7 letters was last seen on the May 03, 2018. We think the likely answer to this clue is CHANCEL.
What is a priests changing room called?
A sacristy is sometimes called a vestry, although this is more typically used for the room where priests change into their vestments, or the special robes they wear during church services.
What is a knave in a church?
The nave (/neɪv/) is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel.
What is another word for a vestibule?
In this page you can discover 24 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for vestibule, like: foyer, lobby, enclosed entrance, entryway, room, doorway, corridor, entrance hall, entry, antechamber and waiting-room.
Why do priests kiss the altar?
In kissing the altar, the priest symbolizes the bond between Christ and his church; acknowledges the sacrifices of those martyrs (relics) who gave their life for the furtherance of the faith; and, when performed with the deacon, is an extension of peace to the community.
What is chancel mean?
Definition of chancel
: the part of a church containing the altar and seats for the clergy and choir.
What do pews mean?
1 : a compartment in the auditorium of a church providing seats for several persons. 2 : one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors fixed in rows in a church.
What is the office in a church called?
divine office, also called canonical hours, liturgy of the hours, or liturgical hours, in various Christian churches, the public service of praise and worship consisting of psalms, hymns, prayers, readings from the Fathers of the early church, and other writings.
What is the difference between altar and temple?
They were different from both religious temples and from palaces directly used for human existence. Altars in residences or gardens could be regarded as a para-religious building, while a temple, in most cases, has the meaning of a memorial hall.
What is the top of a podium called?
The lectern is normally set in front of the pews, so that the reader or speaker faces the congregation. Lecterns are often made of wood. They may be either fixed in place or portable. A lectern differs from a pulpit, the latter being used for sermons.
What is the difference between podium and pulpit?
Pulpit: A raised enclosed platform or structure in a church from which a sermon is delivered or service is conducted. Mostly found in cathedrals or old churches. Podium: A low platform on which a person stands to be seen, while giving a presentation. A podium gives the speaker improved visibility and vocal project.
What are the front steps of a church called?
A church porch is a room-like structure at a church’s main entrance. A porch protects from the weather to some extent.
Why do churches Point east?
There are scriptural roots to this orientation. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27). We believe, therefore, that at the Second Coming, Christ will come from the east.
What is a church steeple used for?
The steeple had to stand above all other structures in town so that the ringing of the bells could be heard. Tall steeples were also thought to keep evil spirits out of church structures, which many Christians believed haunted them.
Why do churches have a tower?
A church tower is a beacon to direct the faithful to the house of God; it is a badge of ecclesiastical authority, and it is the place from whence the heralds of the solemnities of the church, the bells, send forth the summons.
What is the ceiling of a church called?
Vault (architecture) – Wikipedia.
Where is the aisle in a church?
In church architecture, an aisle (also known as an yle or alley) is more specifically a passageway to either side of the nave that is separated from the nave by colonnades or arcades, a row of pillars or columns. Occasionally aisles stop at the transepts, but often aisles can be continued around the apse.