Chancel

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Presbytery (architecture)
)
For other uses, see Chancel (disambiguation).
Plan of a large Latin cross church, with the chancel (strict definition) highlighted. This chancel terminates in a semicircular sanctuary in the apse, and is separated from the curved walls to the east in the diagram by an ambulatory.
Plan with the broader definition of the chancel highlighted
View from the nave of the chancel of Condom Cathedral in France, with ambulatories and two altars, the modern one in the choir
St Peter's, Lilley, Hertfordshire a medium-sized English church showing the nave, chancel arch, and a chancel with choir and sanctuary

In

liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building.[1] It may terminate in an apse
.

Overview

The chancel is generally the area used by the clergy and choir during worship, while the congregation is in the nave. Direct access may be provided by a priest's door, usually on the south side of the church.[2] This is one definition, sometimes called the "strict" one; in practice in churches where the eastern end contains other elements such as an ambulatory and side chapels, these are also often counted as part of the chancel, especially when discussing architecture.[3] In smaller churches, where the altar is backed by the outside east wall and there is no distinct choir, the chancel and sanctuary may be the same area. In churches with a retroquire area behind the altar, this may only be included in the broader definition of chancel.

In a cathedral or other large church, there may be a distinct choir area at the start of the chancel (looking from the nave), before reaching the sanctuary, and an

altar rails, or a rood screen
, a sanctuary bar, or an open space, and its width and roof height is often different from that of the nave; usually the chancel will be narrower and lower.

In churches with a traditional Latin cross plan, and a transept and central crossing, the chancel usually begins at the eastern side of the central crossing, often under an extra-large chancel arch supporting the crossing and the roof. This is an arch which separates the chancel from the nave and transept of a church.[4] If the chancel, strictly defined as choir and sanctuary, does not fill the full width of a medieval church, there will usually be some form of low wall or screen at its sides, demarcating it from the ambulatory or parallel side chapels.

As well as the altar, the sanctuary may house a credence table and seats for officiating and assisting ministers. In some churches, the congregation may gather on three sides or in a semicircle around the chancel. In some churches, the pulpit and lectern may be in the chancel, but in others these, especially the pulpit, are in the nave. The presbytery is often adorned with chancel flowers.[5]

Name

The word "chancel" derives from the French usage of chancel from the Late Latin word cancellus ("lattice").[1][6] This refers to the typical form of rood screens. The chancel was formerly known as the presbytery, because it was reserved for the clergy.[7]

History

In

Oriental Orthodox
churches still practice today.

Iron entry gates to the chancel at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania), USA, designed by master blacksmith Samuel Yellin

A large (or "deep") chancel made most sense in monasteries and cathedrals where there was a large number of singing clergy and boys from a

choir school
to occupy the choir. In many orders "choir monk" was a term used to distinguish the educated monks who had taken full vows, or were training to do so, from another class, called "lay brothers" or other terms, who had taken lesser vows and mostly did manual tasks, including farming the monastery's land. These usually sat in the nave, with any lay congregation.

Following the exposition of the doctrine of

communion rail is generally the only barrier; despite being essentially a Counter-Reformation invention, this has proved useful and accepted in the Protestant churches that dispense communion. However the screen enjoyed a small revival in the 19th century, after the passionate urgings of Augustus Pugin, who wrote A Treatise on Chancel Screens and Rood Lofts,[8]
and others.

After the Reformation Protestant churches generally moved the altar (now often called the

High Church objected to allowing a large group of laity into the chancel.[9]
Different approaches to worship in the 20th century again tended to push altars in larger churches forward, to be closer to the congregation, and the chancel again risks being a less used area of the church.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to chancels.

Citations

  1. ^
    ISBN 0198606788
    .
  2. ^ "priest's door", A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
  3. ^ Fleming, "Chancel"; Pevsner, p. 349
  4. ISBN 0486132110
    .
  5. ^ Wilson, Adelaide B.; Wilson, Lois (1967). Flowers for Your Church. M. Barrows. p. 26.
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas (2001). "Chancel". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  7. ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Presbytery" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  8. ^ Online text
  9. ^ White, 93-97

Bibliography

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