narthex
Nave's entrance lobby
A narthex is the entrance hall or vestibule at the western end of a church, leading into the nave.
In early Christian architecture, it served as a gathering place for those not yet baptized or doing penance, who were excluded from the main worship space.
Modern churches use the narthex as a transitional area between the outside world and the sanctuary: We gathered in the narthex before the service began.
Enclosed space between doors
- porticoColumned covered entryway
- atriumRoofed central hall
- foyerBuilding's entrance room
- anteroomChamber preceding main space
threshold · doorway · entrance · passageway · colonnade · arcade · gallery · porch
Church's main interior
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- chancelAltar-adjacent clergy space
- altarSacred ritual table
- basilicaColonnaded church with apse
cathedral · chapel · baptistery · apse · sacristy · aisle · pew · font
Point of beginning
- transitionChange from one state
- passageSegment of text
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
boundary · separation · liminality · preparation · purification · worldly · spiritual · division
vestibule
Enclosed space between doors
anteroom · threshold · doorway · entrance · passageway · colonnade · arcade · gallery · porch · ambulatory
nave
Church's main interior
basilica · cathedral · chapel · baptistery · apse · sacristy · aisle · pew · font · parish
threshold
Point of beginning
- transitionChange from one state
- passageSegment of text
- sacredWorthy of reverence
profane · boundary · separation · liminality · preparation · purification · worldly · spiritual · division · demarcation
procession
Formal moving line
- entrancePoint of access
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
catechumen · penitent · preparation · rite · ceremony · vigil · blessing · dismissal · reception · initiation
- churchnave, pew, pews, altar, altars
- building partsfacades, wall, door, windows, floor
- Chapelschapel bells, chapel choir, college chapel, hospital chapel, memorial chapel
- sacred placestemple complex, basilica, abbey, church, chapel
- entrywaysvestibule, foyer, anteroom, entryway, antechamber
- passagestunnel, hallway, duct, walkway, channel
narthexsanctuary
Protected sacred space
chancel · altar · apse · holy of holies · inner sanctum