Lancashire

Churches

Learn about the technical terms used in architecture

A - M

  N - Z

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a semi-circular extension, often of a chancel or transept

arcade

1. a series of arches

2. a shopping street that is covered, usually with glass

architrave

1. the section of the classical entablature that rests on the capital

2. the moulding around a window or door

ashlar

square-cut stone blocks, often used as a smooth facing over brick or rubble

baldachino

a sheltering canopy, often supported on columns

battlement

a parapet on a wall, alternating high and low

bay

a section of an elevation as divided by columns, windows, etc.

beakhead

Norman moulding with a row of heads (often bird-like) with mouths or beaks biting a roll

boss

an ornament placed at the intersection of roof timbers or ribs in a vault

box pew

a pew enclosed by tall sides, entered by a door

bracket

a piece of supporting stone

buttress

a stone, brick or wood structure projecting from a wall, designed to support it by counteracting lateral thrust

capital

the moulded head of a column, pier or pilaster

chancel

the eastern space in a church where the high altar is usually found

chancel arch

an arch at the west end of the chancel that leads from the nave or the crossing

chapel of ease

a chapel for those living a distance from the main church

chevron

a zig-zag ornament characteristic of Norman architecture

clerestory

also clearstory: the upper part of the nave wall of a church pierced by windows

cusps

the projecting point between foils

dagger

a dagger shaped tracery motif with two pointed lobes, one long and blade-like

drip-course

a moulded stone projection, designed to protect the wall below from water damage

embattled

having battlements

faience

glazed tilework

fielded panel

a wooden panel with a raised square or rectangular piece surrounded by moulding

finial

a decorative feature at the very top of a part of a building

metope

in the Doric frieze, the space between the triglyphs

guttae

in the Doric frieze, small projections below the triglyphs

gallery

in a church, an upper balcony with seating that overlooks the nave

hagioscope

see squint

hoodmould

projecting stone moulding above a door, window etc. designed to protect it by throwing off water

lancet window

a tall, pointed window with no tracery

lucarne

a small window in a spire or roof

mandorla

an pointed vertical almond/oval shape framing the figure of Christ

mouchette

a curved version of the dagger motif in tracery

mullion

one of the vertical posts that divides a window into "lights" 

nailhead

a C13 moulding of repeated pyramidal motifs

narthex

an enclosed vestibule at the main entrance to the church

nave

the western part of the body of a church, often flanked by aisles

oculus

a circular window

ogee

a continuous double curve; an elongated "S" shape

patera

a flat, round, relief ornament

pediment

a gable shape in classical architecture, often triangular, though sometimes with a curved top or "broken" on one edge

pier

a support whose section is often round, square or octagonal

pilaster

a rectangular column or pillar strip projecting in relief from a wall

pinnacle

a finial, usually tapering, often placed on the upper corners of towers, or on the tops of buttresses

piscina

a bowl or basin with a drain usually set into the wall near the high altar, used for washing the communion or mass vessels

porte-cochere

a covered entrance to a building into which coaches can be driven

quatrefoil

a 4-lobed shape formed by cusping in tracery

quoins

blocks, usually of stone, up the corner of a building, often in an alternating pattern, and frequently rusticated

reredos

a decorative (usually painted or sculpted) screen behind an altar

rusticated

masonry cut to appear strong, often by having deeply cut joints or a deliberately roughened stone finish

sedilia

seats built into the south side of the chancel, usually 3, often graded by height and decoration, for the priests

squint

a hole cut through stonework to allow a view of the high altar from a location that could otherwise not see it: also called a hagioscope

tester

a horizontal sounding board or canopy above the pulpit, designed to deflect the priest's voice out to the congregation

tracery

the pattern made by stonework in the top part of a window: such pattern in wood, or on the surface of a wall, etc.

transept

an extension of a church at right angles to the nave

transom

a horizontal bar dividing a window

trefoil

literally "3 leaves": a three lobed shape formed by cusps (q.v.)

triglyph

in the Doric frieze, a block with vertical grooves

Tuscan order

a version of the Doric order with unfluted column and plain frieze

vesica piscis

a vertical pointed oval shape

voussoirs

the wedge-shaped stones that form the curve of an arch

waterleaf

a flowing, gently curving leaf-form characteristic of C12 capitals

Photographs and text © Tony Boughen