The Parts of the Church

In most instances, a church is built in the form of a cross, a cruciform church. Many churches are built to face the East, so that during the celebration of the morning worship, the congregation faces the rising sun, a symbol of Christ and the Second Coming. Each part of a church has a different name, and a different purpose. Listed below, from back to front, are the primary areas of the church, and their purpose.

Narthex

The entryway, or foyer, of a church which leads to main area of worship. It is also a place to visit with others in attendance before going in for worship.

Nave

The body of the church wear the lay people sit, extending from the Narthex to the Chancel, and it is flanked by aisles.

Transept

This is the part of the church that separates the Nave from the Chancel and represents the arms of the cross. There is a North Transept and a South Transept. The center of the Transept is referred to as the Crossing.

Pulpit

A raised stand in a Christian church, usually on the South side of the Transept, where ministers can deliver the message of God or lead the worship service. This can be as simple as a wooden stand or as elaborate as an enclosed platform raised high above the congregation. Being raised above the congregation allows for the entire congregation to hear and see the minister, and the minister to see the gathered.

Lectern

A standing reading desk for reading aloud the Scriptures of the Bible. It is usually on the North side of the Transept. It can be moveable or fixed.

Chancel

The space around the Altar where the clergy sits, and includes the choir and the Sanctuary, at the liturgical East end of the church building. It is separated from the Nave and Transepts by a screen or some other form of division.

Sanctuary

In its original meaning, the Sanctuary is a sacred place, or a place set apart. It is separated from the rest of the church by various means, such as a veil or, in our case, an altar rail. Historically, it would be a place of safe refuge for criminals or fugitives, based on the idea that churches are not subject to the powers of this world.

Altar

The Altar is the heart of the church. The church is built primarily to contain an Altar. It is known as the “great sign of Christ,” indicating the Altar has no meaning apart from Jesus. Historically, the Altar was a place for making sacrifices to God, or a god. It is the place where Communion takes place, and where nothing is placed save those elements pertaining to the Lord’s Supper.

Apse

The Apse is the termination to the church. It is behind the Altar on the most Easterly end of the church. Historically, it was often used as a niche to hold the statue of a deity in a temple and was the most elaborately decorated part of the church.

These are the basic parts of the church. In another document, we will explore some of the decorations, or elements, of a church.