Glossary of Terms

Aisle

Passage between rows of pews or part of a church parallel to the nave but divided from it by pillars

Arcade

Series of arches, oftern between nave and aisle

Aumbrey

Small recess in a church wall or small cupboard

Bellcote

A gabled housing for bells set on the roof

Box Pew

A pew with high sides of equal height entered by a door

Buttress

A projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall

Capital

Head of a pillar/column

Classical

Style derived from Greek or Roman architecture

Clerestory

Upper storey of the nave walls, above the aisles and containing windows

Crocket

Carved ornament, usually a bud or curled leaf on the side of a pinnacle, spire, etc.

Cupola

A small dome forming a roof or ceiling

Cusp

A projecting point between small arcs in Gothic tracery

Gothic

Architecture characterised by pointed arches, prevalent in Europe in the 12th-16th centuries

Hatchment

Large, diagonal plaque with a deceased person's heraldic arms, carried at the funeral and then hung in the church

Ionic

Greek style column with scroll shapes on either side of the capital

Mediaeval

11th-15th centuries

Nave

Central part of the church usually from the West door to the chancel, excluding any aisles

Norman

Architecture in late 11th century and 12th century

Paschal

Relating to Easter

Pediment

In classical architecture, formal style of garble above doors/windows

Perpendicular

The third stage of English Gothic Architecture from the 15th-16th century

Pieta

Picture/sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ on her lap/in her arms

Poppyhead

Carved ornament of leaves, often fleur-de-lys, on pew ends

Portica

A roof supported by columns at regular intervals usually as a porch to a building

Reredos

Ornamental screen covering the wall at the back of the altar

Saxon

From 600-1066

Saxo-Norman

Style with both Anglo-Saxon and Norman features 1060-1100

Still-Leaf

Carved foilage decoration

Tracery

Ornamental ribwork in upper part of windows

Tudor

From 1485-1603

Tuscan

The least ornamental of classical architecture

Tympanum

Triangular space over a door between the lintel and an arch, may be carved

Victorian

From 1837-1901