A glossary of common architectural terms relating to medieval religious houses.

Aisle

The part of a church on either side of the nave, usually separated from it by a row of columns.

Alien priory

A religious establishment, sometimes fully monastic but very often not, owing obedience to a mother-house outside England.

Ambulatory

The walking-place, or aisle, around the east end of a church, behind the high altar and usually giving access to additional chapels.

Apse (Apisdal)

The semicircular termination of a chancel or chapel at its eastern end.

Arcade

A series of columns supporting arches.

Bay

The division of a building, as marked by a unit of roof vaulting, columns, etc.

Blind Arcade

The decorative treatment of a wall by setting blank arches, atop columns, against it.

Capella ante portas

The chapel by the gate of a Cistercian house, for the use of travelers and other visitors.

Cellarium (Undercroft)

A storehouse or storeroom in a monastery.

Chancel

The east end of the church by the high altar, usually reserved for the clergy.

Chantry

A chapel, or just an altar, endowed by its founder with sufficient funds to maintain a priest to sing masses for his soul.

Chapter-house

The chamber, usually centrally placed in the east range of the cloister, where the community met daily to transact business and to receive instruction, including the reading of a chapter of the Rule.

Choir (Quire)

The part of the church, furnished with choir stalls, where services were sung.

Cloister (Claustral)

An open space, usually square and surrounded by an arcaded and roofed passage, for exercise and study.

Corona

The crown of radiating chapels sometimes found at the eastern end of the greater monastic churches.

Crossing

The space in a church where nave, transepts and chancel intersect.

Crypt

The chamber, usually below ground and under the east end of the church, where relics were commonly housed and displayed.

Dormitory (Dorter)

The common sleeping chamber of the monks.

Feretory

A shrine specially constructed to house relics.

Garderobe

A privy or lavatory.

Infirmary (Infirmarer)

A building assigned to the sick.

Lavatorium (Laver)

The wash-place, usually a trough with running water situated in the cloister for the use of the monks before meals.

Misericord

The chamber in a monastery where meat, otherwise not permitted by the Rule, might be taken.

Narthex

The vestibule, also known as a Galilee, at the west end of a church, sometimes taking the form of a porch.

Nave

The western arm of a church, usually its main body west of the crossing.

Presbytery

The eastern arm of a church, east of the choir and containing the high altar.

Pulpitum

A partition or screen separating the monks' choir from the nave.

Refectory

The common eating-chamber of the monks.

Reliquary

A box or other container for relics.

Rere-dorter

A building at the far end of the dormitory from the church, housing the monks' latrines.

Stalls

The monks' seats, often carved and canopied, in the choir.

Transept

The transverse arm, north or south, of a cross-shaped church.

Undercroft

A chamber, frequently vaulted, underlying an important apartment like a dormitory, refectory or chapel.

Vault

An arched roof.

Warming-house

The common chamber, also known as the calefactory, where the monks might warm themselves at the fire.