the church usually beyond the transept and in line with the axis of the nave. The area may be higher than the level of the nave. The name choir is used because traditionally the clergy of the Cathedral stood here as a chorus, chanting or singing during the responsive portion of Divine Offices or Mass. Crypt: Usually the below ground foundation. Used for burial or as a chapel. Facade: The outside of the church, where the main doors are located. In traditional medieval design, this faced the west and is called the West End. Narthex: The entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave. Nave: The primary area of public observance of the Mass. It is generally the largest space, and located between the narthex and sanctuary. Radiating Chapels: Located around the Apse of the church, accessible from the Ambulatory. Sanctuary: An elevated platform that contains the main altar and associated liturgical elements that is restricted for ceremonial use by the clergy, often fenced from adjoining spaces. It is centered on the main east–west axis within the east end and generally located within the choir or the apse. Transept: Sometimes called the ‘Crossing’, the transept forms wings at right angles to the nave. In early Romanesque churches, it was often at the east end, creating a Tau Cross. Later designs placed the transept about two-thirds of the way from the West End to the East End. This created the Latin cross plan. See also Architecture of cathedrals and great churches Church architecture, including description of common terms List of largest church buildings References External links Salisbury Cathedral floor plan Canterbury Cathedral: several floor plans Plan of Canterbury Cathedral Durham Cathedral Layout The Plans of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse and Amiens Cathedral St. Patrick's Cathedral Floorplan (Armagh) Exeter Cathedral Floorplan Church architecture Diagrams