Chancel

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Chancel

"Chancel" is an architectural term for the space around the altar

Altar

An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religion, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place....
at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse

Apse

In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault . In Romanesque architecture, Byzantine architecture and Gothic architecture Christian abbey, cathedral and church architecture, the term is applied to the semi-circular or polygonal section of the sanctuary at the liturgical east end beyond the altar....
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Following the exposition of the doctrine of transubstantiation

Transubstantiation

In Roman Catholic theology, transubstantiation is the change of the Substance theory of Host and Sacramental wine into the Body of Christ and Blood of Christ occurring in the Eucharist while all that is accessible to the senses remain as before....
at the fourth Lateran Council

Lateran council

The Lateran councils were ecclesiastical councils or synods of the Catholic Church held at Rome in the Lateran Palace next to the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano....
of 1215, clergy were required to ensure that the blessed sacrament

Eucharist

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names, is a Christianity sacrament commemorating, by consecrating bread and wine, the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion, when he gave them bread saying, "This is my body", and wine...
was to be kept protected from irreverent access or abuse; and accordingly the area of the church used by the lay congregation was to be screened off from that used by the clergy.

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Encyclopedia

"Chancel" is an architectural term for the space around the altar

Altar

Apse

Transubstantiation

Lateran council

Eucharist

Canon law

Canon law is internal ecclesiastical law governing the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church churches, and the Anglicanism of churches....
, by which the construction and upkeep of the chancel was the responsibility of the rector

Rector

The word rector has a number of different meanings, but all of them indicate an academic, religious or political administrator.The word "rector" also appears in many modern languages, such as Albanian, Dutch language, Spanish language, Catalan language and Romanian language....
, whereas the construction and upkeep of the nave was the responsibility of the parish

Parish

A parish is a local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Methodist, and Presbyterianism churches....
. The distinction between nave and chancel, both legal and ritual, is maintained in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Book of Common Prayer

The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. The first book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI of England, was a product of the English Reformation following the break with Roman Catholic Church....
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As well as the altar, the chancel usually houses the credence table

Credence table

A Credence table is a small side table in the sanctuary of a Christian church which is used in the celebration of the Eucharist.The credence table is usually placed near the wall on the epistle side of the sanctuary, and may be covered with a fine linen cloth....
, and seats for officiating and assisting ministers. In Anglican churches it will usually include the choir

Choir

A choir, chorale, or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral Music, in turn, is the music written specifically for a choir to perform....
. In some traditions, the pulpit

Pulpit

File:Convento Cristo Decemebr 2008-18.jpgA pulpit is a small elevated platform from which a member of the clergy delivers a Sermon in a house of worship....
and lectern

Lectern

A lectern is a reading desk with a slanted top, usually placed on a stand or affixed to a some other form of support, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading aloud, as in a scripture reading, lecture, or sermon....
may be in the chancel, but in others these functions are considered proper to the nave

Nave

In Romanesque architecture and Gothic architecture Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and Church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar....
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The chancel is typically raised somewhat above the level of the nave, where the congregation gathers. It may be separated from the nave

Nave

In Romanesque architecture and Gothic architecture Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and Church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar....
by a rood screen

Rood screen

The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval parish church architecture. It is typically an ornate screen, constructed of wood, stone or wrought iron....
, a rail, or an open space. In some churches, the congregation may gather on three sides or in a semicircle around the chancel.

The word "chancel" derives from the French usage of chancel from a Late Latin word cancelli meaning "lattice". This refers to the rood screen

Rood screen

The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval parish church architecture. It is typically an ornate screen, constructed of wood, stone or wrought iron....
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