Copy of `Norwich Churches - Churches terms`

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Norwich Churches - Churches terms Category: Architecture and Buildings > Church architecture Date & country: 25/09/2013, UK Words: 134

Reticulated
A net- like form of of tracery made up of ogees.

Return Stalls
Stalls in the chancel which run along the back of the screen facing east.

Rib Vault
A vault in which the sections are marked out by raised stone ribs.

Romanesque
The architecture of the Anglo-Saxon and Norman styles, c600-c1100.

Rood
The crucifix at the entrance to the chancel. Usually stood on a beam, with attendant figures of St Mary and St John. Some modern versions are suspended, especially where there is no screen.

Rood Dado
The solid bottom half of the Rood Screen, occasionally surviving alone after the rest is removed.

Rood Loft
A gallery at the top of the rood screen, used for access to the lamps burning before the Rood. Sometimes used for parts of the liturgy.

Rood Screen
A screen dividing the Nave from the Chancel, topped with a Rood.

Rood Stair
A stair for access to the Rood Loft.

Rood Stair
Turret Contains the stair to the Rood Loft .

Sanctuary
Area around the main altar of the church, within the communion rails.

Screen
A pierced barrier, often carved wood, dividing a space but allowing vision through to another area.

Sedilia
A set of one to three recesses in the chancel wall, used as seats for the clergy during Mass.

Side Altar
An altar in a side chapel

Sound Hole
A square stone pierced with tracery . Supposed to let the sound of the bells out, but actually to ventilate the chamber below the belfry.

Spandrel
The space between an arch and its surround. In a roof, the space between a brace and a rafter

Springings
The springing of an arch is the point where it leaves the pillar or wall.

Squint
A hole in a wall usually to allow sight of the altar. Also called Hagioscope

Strapwork
A form of decoration which originated in the Netherlands c1540, and characteristic of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. It consists of interlaced bands or straps, and may be executed in stone, wood, or plaster

String Course
Horizontal course or moulding projecting from the surface of a wall.

Tabernacle
A box to hold the reserved sacrament, which stands on the altar. See Aumbry.

Tester
A flat, horizontal canopy. May be above an altar, or over a pulpit, when it is called a sounding-board.

Three-decker pulpit
A structure combining a pulpit, a reading-pew, and the clerk’s desk.

Tie Beam
A horizontal beam used to prevent two other structural members from spreading apart. See Hammerbeam.

Tierceron Vault
A rib vault with subsidiary (tierceron)ribs.

Tracery
Openwork pattern of masonry or wood in the upper part of an opening e.g window or screen. See Blind Tracery , Y-Tracery , Reticulated .

Transept
Part of a church built at right-angles to the main structure. May be added to an existing church, or be part of a cruciform building.

Trefoil
A three lobed shape.

Truss
Supporting structure or framework.

Turret
A small tower. In parish churches they often contain staircases.

Vault
(1) Arched stone roof ; (2) a burial chamber. See Barrel Vault, Fan Vault, Rib Vault ,Tierceron Vault

Vestry
A room in which vestments are kept, but also used for most parish business

Victorian Gothic
A 19th century revival version of the medieval Gothic style. Sometimes called Gothic Revival. Dates from approximately 1840 to WW1.

Zigzag Course
Course with abrupt alternate right and left turns