chancel

chan·cel

C0235900 (chăn′səl)n. The space around the altar of a church for the clergy and sometimes the choir, often enclosed by a lattice or railing.

[Middle English chauncel, from Old French chancel, from Late Latin cancellus, latticework, sing. of Latin cancellī; see cancel.]

chancel

(ˈtʃɑːnsəl) n1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) the part of a church containing the altar, sanctuary, and choir, usually separated from the nave and transepts by a screen2. (Architecture) the part of a church containing the altar, sanctuary, and choir, usually separated from the nave and transepts by a screen[C14: from Old French, from Latin cancellī (plural) lattice]

chan•cel

(ˈtʃæn səl, ˈtʃɑn-)

n. the space around the altar of a church, usu. enclosed, for the use of the clergy and other officials. [1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin cancellus lattice, railing or screen before the altar of a church, Latin cancell(ī) (pl.) lattice, grating; see cancel]

Thesaurus

Noun

chancel - area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railingbema, sanctuaryarea - a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants"choir - the area occupied by singers; the part of the chancel between sanctuary and navechurch building, church - a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty"

Translations

chancelcoro

chancel

chancel,

primarily that part of the church close to the altar and used by the officiating clergy. In the early churches it was separated from the nave by a low parapet or open railing (cancellus), its name being thus derived. San Clemente at Rome has one of the few preserved examples. With the development of the choir, additional space was taken, between the sanctuarysanctuary,
sacred place, especially the most sacred part of a sacred place. In ancient times and in the Middle Ages, a sanctuary served as asylum, a place of refuge for persons fleeing from violence or from the penalties of the law.
..... Click the link for more information. and the nave, for the accommodation of the canons and singers. The chancel rail was moved forward, and the entire space became known as the choir, although it is also termed the chancel; there is no strict differentiation in the usage. In the Middle Ages the chancel rail was replaced by lofty choir screens (see roodrood
, crucifix mounted above the entrance to the chancel and flanked by large figures of the Virgin and St. John, an almost invariable feature in the 14th- and 15th-century European church.
..... Click the link for more information. ), especially in English cathedrals and in monastic churches.

Chancel

The part of a large church that is located beyond the transept, containing the altar and choir.

chancel

The sanctuary of a church, including the choir; reserved for the clergy.

chancel

the part of a church containing the altar, sanctuary, and choir, usually separated from the nave and transepts by a screen

chancel

chan·cel

chancel

chan•cel

chancel

chancel,

Chancel

chancel

chancel

chancel

Synonyms for chancel

noun area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir

Synonyms

Related Words