| Architrave |
In Classical architecture, the beam resting on the columns. |
| Capital |
The cap or crown to a column usually heavily decorated. |
| Chancel |
Eastern part of a church containing the choir and main alter. |
| Chantry Chapel |
Mediaeval chapel endowed for the celebration of masses. |
| Chevron |
Zig-zag decorative moulding used in Norman architecture. |
| Clerestory |
Windows near the ceiling in a high room or hall. |
| Cloister |
An inner courtyard or central square closed by the four sides of a church, cathedral or monastery. |
| Corbel |
A projecting bracket, sometimes carved and decorated. Used to help support weight from above. |
| Crossing |
The central space at the intersection of the nave and transept of a church, usually beneath the tower. |
| Crypt |
Underground room usually belo the east end of a church. |
| Finial |
The top or finishing stone of a pinnacle. |
| Gargoyle |
A spout usually carved in the shape of an animal or demon, sometimes a Green Man, and connected to a gutter for throwing rain water from the roof of a building. |
| Grotesque |
A carving usually of a demon, dragon, or half human/half animal, serving no utilitarian purpose. Often confused with gargoyles. |
| Hammer-beam roof |
A roof constructed of timber brackets (hammer-beams) that support a trussed roof. These eliminate the need for tie-beams |
| Lady Chapel |
The easternmost chapel of a cathedral, intended for quiet contemplation and the occasional special service. |
| Misericord |
Projection on the underside of hinged seat in choir stall, serving when seat is turned up to support person standing. |
| Nave |
The main body of a church or cathedral, sometimes defined as the central aisle only. In Latin nave means ship. |
| Niche |
A recess in a wall for the reception of a statue. |
| Oratory |
Small chapel used for private prayer. |
| Perpendicular style |
The name given to late 15c English Gothic architecture as lines became longer and more elaborate. |
| Pinnacle |
A slender pointed summit placed on top of buttresses, gables etc. |
| Piscina |
Perforated stone basin for carrying away water, used in rinsing of chalice etc. in religious ceremony. |
| Poppy head |
Carved finial crowning end of seat. The word derives from the old French 'puppis' meaning a figure head. |
| Porch |
A projecting enclosed doorway, usually a side entrance located at the north and south transepts of a cathedral. |
| Quoin |
A corner stone |
| Reredos |
The wall or screen behind the alter usually ornamental with painting or carving. |
| Rood/Rood screen |
A cross or crucifix placed between the chancel and nave. A rood screen separates the two parts of the church and is often painted or carved. |
| Sanctuary |
Most sacred part of the chapel, around the alter. |
| Sedilia |
Seats for the clergy. |
| Spandrel |
Triangular space between the curved parts of two adjoining arches. Also the triangular space between the underside of a staircase and the floor. |
| Stalls |
Elaborate seating for the choir, situated in the chancel. |
| Tie-beam |
The horizontal beam connected to the feet of rafters to prevent them from spreading out under the weight of the roof. |
| Tracery |
Ornamental stonework most often seen supporting window glass in the form of trifoils and cinquefoils. Sometimes used merely as decoration on panels and mouldings and then called 'blind' tracery. |
| Trancept |
In cathedral architecture the north and south projections or 'arms' of the cross. |
| Trifoil |
Tracery in three foils. |
| Tympanium |
A panel above the main portal or doorway, usually heavily decorated. |
| Vault |
Stone ceiling formed like arches. A rib is a projecting feature of a vault and is sometimes structural or can be ornamental. |
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Church Architectural Periods
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| Anglo-Saxon |
Most buildings of this period were constructed from wood and few have survived. The stone built buildings have interesting decoration |
|
Norman
Early English
|
12th century. Characteristics of this style are, round arches, barrel vaults, walls decorated with interlacing arches and arcades, highly decorated doorways and plenty of mouldings.
1189 - 1272 squat bulky buildings gave way to taller, lighter construction.
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Early mediaeval Decorated period
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13th - 14th centuries. Larger windows began to appear and much more in the way of decorative features and tracery.
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Late mediaeval
Perpendicular
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15th - 16th centuries. A more simplistic period. Buttresses were now deeper which allowed even larger windows. Fan vaulting was perfected and tracery was at it's most elegant
|
| Post reformation |
17th -18th centuries. Columns, cornices, pediments, architrave windows and elegant proportions. |
| Victorian restoration |
19th century. This period saw architects adopt a gothic revival as well as other styles. |
