Glossary
Altar 祭台: Elevated structure located in the choir at the east end of the church, where religious rites are performed .
Ambulatory 迴廊: Passageways surrounding the central part of the choir, which is often a continuation of the side aisles. The most common design of the Gothic era was the double ambulatory surrounded by semi-circular radiating chapels such as at the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis.
Apse: Semi-circular vaulted structure at the east end of the church at the termination of the choir.
Bay: A major vertical division of a large, interior wall. There are usually more than one, such as a nave that is divided into seven bays.
Chancel: Space around the altar of a church that is usually intended for the clergy. From the Latin cancellus for "railing."
Chevet: Apse built as radiating chapels outside of the choir aisle, and the resulting, more complicated structure became known as the chevet at the beginning of the 13th century.
Choir 唱經席: Part of the church east of the crossing, usually occupied by the priests and singers of the choir. From the Latin chorus for a "singing group."
Crossing 十字翼廊: Space where the transept intersects with the nave along the main axis of the church.
Façade: The front of the cathedral. During the Gothic era, the west façade at the entranceway was noted for its three sculptured portals, and crowning rose window flanked by two towers. Starting with Saint-Denis, this became a feature of Gothic cathedrals.
Narthex: Beginning with Early Christian architecture, this was the gallery, vestibule, or porch located in the main (west) entrance of the church.
Nave 主殿: The middle aisle or multiple main aisled part of a church extending from the narthex or main entrance to the choir. The congregation usually sits here. Radiating (Apsidal) chapels: Series of chapels arranged around an ambulatory in the apse of a cathedral.
Rood screen/Jube 屏風: A stone or wooden screen, which separated the choir of the church where the clergy sits from the nave where the congregation sits.
Transept: Any major transverse part of the church, usually crossing the nave and at right angles with the entrance of the choir. The transept may be divided into areas of different height.