Abbess: (f.) Person in charge of an Abbey

Abbey: A monastic community. Abbeys belonged to particular orders, such as the Cistercians (More...)

Abbot: (m.) Person in charge of an Abbey

Aisle: The passages to each side of the nave, separated from the nave by screens or columns

Alien Priory: A priory that was directly dependant on a foreign mother house, usually in France. Disbanded in 1414 due to the security risk they posed.

Almery: or Ambry or Aumbry. A box or cupboard for alms, or a cupboard in the chancel for sacred vessels

Almonry: The office of the Almoner where alms were distributed

Almoner: Monk in charge of a monastery's almsgiving and other charitable work

Ambulatory: The processional aisle around the apse at the east end of a church

Antipope: Someone elected in opposition to the current Pope. Not recognised by the Vatican City.

Apse: A semicircular projection usually found at the east end of a church

Atrium: Covered row of columns in front of the door of a church

Aumbry: A recess or cupboard used usually for sacred objects

Baptistry: Area of the church reserved for the administration of the sacrament of baptism.

Barrow: Burial mound built over stone graves

Bay: A compartment into which a building is divided. Bays are marked by buttresses, pilasters in the walls, by the position of the main ribs of the vaulting of the interior, etc.

Benedictine: Order of monks founded by St. Benedict. Followed the Benedictine Rule

Bull: Authoritative papal letter sealed with the Pope's lead seal

Calefactory: Warming house in a monastery

Canons: The chapter members. The people running the cathedral

Cathedral: The principal church of a diocese where the bishop has the throne

Cell: A monastic dependency of a religious house

Chamber: A room on an upper floor for living and sleeping

Chamberlain: Officer of the royal household responsible for running the household affairs

Chancel: The east end of the church, sometimes divided into the sanctuary and presbytery. Anglo-Saxon and early Norman chancels were normally apsed and later chancels were square

Chapter: The group of canons, with the Dean, who are the governing body of a cathedral

Chapter House: The building where the canons and Dean met each day to hear a chapter of St Benedict's Rule read out and to conduct the business of the abbey

Chevet: East end of a church with an apse surrounded by other smaller ones

Choir: The area of the church where the choristers and clergy sit

Cistercians: Order of monks, also know as the White Monks

Clearstory: The upper story or row of windows lighting the nave of the church

Cloister: The rectangular covered area around an open space (garth) of a monastery or cathedral surrounded by covered walkways used for study and meditation. A photograph of the cloister at Lincoln Cathedral

Conversi: Also known as Lay Brothers. They perform manual tasks within an abbey or monastery rather than religious duties.

Crossing: The point at which the roofs of the four cross-arms of the church met. Below the crossing is the choir

Cruciform: Cross-shaped. A church with transepts has a cruciform plan

Crypt: Vault or chamber under the church