Statistics for the Roughwood Church Album

Abacus	Top of the capital
Altar	A holy table used for communion.
Altar Tomb	Monument used for an altar
Apse	Semi-circular east end of a chancel or chapel, usually Norman in an ancient church
Arcade	A range of arches supported by columns.
Aumbry	A cupboard or recess in which are stored the sacred vessels used for the administration of Holy Communion, or which once contained holy relics.
Baldacchino	An ornamental structure in the shape of a canopy, supported by four columns, built over a church altar, and usually decorated with statues and other ornaments.
Baluster	Pillar with the centre large than the ends.
Barge Boards	The woodwork covering the ends of rafters of porches etc
Barrel Roof	Continuous round-arched vault.
Basilica	In Roman architecture, a public building for assemblies, especially tribunals, rectangular in plan, entered on a long side. In Christian architecture, an early church somewhat resembling the Roman basilica; usually entered from one end with an apse at the other creating an axial plan.
Battlement	Indented parapet.
Broach Spire	Spire without a parapet at its base.
Buttress	Projecting additional support to a wall.
Capital	The top part of a pillar or column.
Chancel	Eastern part of a church containing the choir and main altar (sanctuary).
Chantry Chapel	Mediaeval chapel endowed for the celebration (chanting) of masses, especially for the soul of the founder of the chapel.
Chapel of Ease	A church built to accommodate those living at a distance from the parish church.
Chevron	Zigzag moulding.
Clerestory	Uppermost storey standing above the aisle roof, pierced by windows, sometimes with a triforium beneath.
Consecration Cross	One of the twelve marks anciently sculptured or painted on the walls or pillars of a new church, and anointed with chrism (holy oil) at the consecration of the church.
Corbel	Stone bracket, usually moulded or carved, often with angels or human heads.
Credence Table	Side table for bread and wine.
Crocket	Small decorative leafy sculpture mainly used on the outer curve of arches in the 13th and 14th centuries. They have no architectural function and were used on cathedrals in imitation of the bishop's crozier (also derived from the French "croc" which means "hook").
Crossing	The space at the intersection of the nave, chancel, and transepts of a church; often surmounted by a crossing tower or dome.
Cruciform	In the shape of a cross, often used to describe the plan of a church.
Crypt	An underground chamber.
Curvilinear	Flowing tracery of windows as seen in the latter period of the Decorated style.
Cusp	Projecting points in Gothic arches and tracery.
Decorated	Middle phase of Gothic architecture, characterised by elaborate window tracery and naturalistic carving c 1250-1350.
Diaper work	Ornamental work, representing flowers etc.
Doom	Painting of the Last Judgement often depicted on mediaeval walls, usually over the chancel arch.
Dormitory	A pseudonym for a room containing tombs, typically a space reserved for the members of a local landed family.
Easter Sepulchre	For placing crucifix from Good Friday until Easter Day.
Early English	First phase of Gothic architecture dominant after Norman, characterised by the earliest pointed arches and simple lancet windows c1190-1250.
Estoile	A star, usually of six wavy points. Where there are more they are alternately straight and wavy.
Flying Buttress	Masonry support consisting usually of a pier or buttress standing apart from the main structure and connected to it by an arch.
Foliated	Imitation of flowers, or cusping of an arch.
Frescoes	Mural paintings.
Gothic	Architecture which flourished from about the late 12th century until the English Reformation in 1540, characterised by the pointed arch.
Gothic Revival	Rediscovery by the Victorians of mediaeval Gothic style.
Gothick	18th century fashion based upon a fanciful interpretation of mediaeval Gothic.
Hagioscope	Oblique opening in wall for watching the elevation of the Host (also called a squint).
Hatchments	Diamond shaped boards bearing a coat of arms of a deceased person. They were displayed on his house between death and burial and afterwards laid up in the parish church, a practice which began in the 17th century.
Lancet	Narrow pointed window of the Early English period.
Lectern	A reading desk.
Minster	The vernacular Old English of 'monasterium', usually applied to mother churches manned by secular priests covering a 'parochia' or parish.
Misericord	Misericords are small 'comfort' ledges fitted under tip up stalls, designed to give a resting point for monks and others who had to stand for long periods during long medieval services. These were often ornately carved.
Mullion	Division between lights of window, screens, etc.
Nave	Main body of the church west of the chancel used by the congregation (from the Latin, navis, a ship).
Ogee	Recumbent S-shaped curve forming arches and gables, a hallmark of the late Decorated period.
Parapet	Low (usually) wall at the base or edge of a roof.
Parvise	Room above a porch.
Perpendicular	Final phase of Gothic architecture, characterised by large windows, flattened arches, impressive towers and fan vaulting c1350-1540.
Piscina	Recess with basin and drain for washing the sacred vessels.
Reredos	Wall or screen behind the altar, usually ornamented with painting or carving.
Reticulated	Net-work tracery.
Rib	Projecting feature of a vault which is sometimes ornamental, sometimes structural.
Rood	Cross or crucifix placed between the chancel and nave. A rood screen separates the two parts of a church and is often painted or carved.
Royal Arms	Arms of the monarch usually painted on wood or canvas which became compulsory in churches after the Reformation.
Sanctuary	Most sacred part of the chapel or church, around the altar.
Sedilia	Recessed seats in the south wall of the chancel for the priest, deacon and sub-deacon.
Soffit	The underside of an arch, etc.
Spandrel	The space between the head of an arch and the frame in which it is set; also, the space left between two adjoining arches, typically triangular.
Squint	See hagioscope.
Stoup	Niche for consecrated water.
String Course	A horizontal band of projecting stonework on the surface of a wall.
Tester	Also called a sounding board. Structure over a pulpit to direct sound forward.
Tracery	Ornamental stone ribs in the upper parts of window and in circular windows.
Transept	A structure forming the transverse part of a cruciform church, crosses the nave at right angles.
Transom	Horizontal mullion or crossbar.
Trefoil	Tracery of three-cusped foliation.
Triforium	Gallery of arcade under a clerestory.
Triptych	A set of three paintings often on panels that are related in subject matter, often seen as a backdrop to the high altar in a church. Renaissance altarpieces often followed this format, with the two outer panels hinged so that they could fold like doors in front of the main, center panel. From the Greek tri- "three" + ptychē "fold".
Tympanum	Space between the lintel and arch of a doorway or opening.
Vault	Stone ceiling formed like arches.
Vestry	A small room, attached to a church, in which vestments are kept and in which the clergy and choir robe themselves.
Waggon roof	Roof with a semi-circular section.

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Glossary for the Roughwood Churches Album

This is a page from the Roughwood British Churches Album