For the purpose of ceremonies we distinguish five parts of the church. Every church, however small, will have these, at least as theoretic divisions. They are the nave, baptistery, porch, choir and sanctuary. The nave is that part of the church where the people attend the services. Generally it is arranged in two groups of seats, one on either side, with a passage down the middle. It is not now usual in Catholic churches to separate men from women.
The baptistery should be, if possible, a separate chapel, or at least railed off from the rest of the church.[1] It may contain an altar,[2] as well as a font. The font[3] should stand in the middle of the baptistery. It is covered when not in use (see p. 394, n. 1).
Beyond the main entrance to the nave is the narthex, or porch (sometimes called vestibulum). This has important liturgical uses, and should never be wanting. At the church doors are holy water stoups.
In front of the nave, generally raised by one or more steps, is the choir. This is where the clergy or singers attend in cassock and surplice. It should have seats or stalls on either side, facing each other across the church. In cathedral and collegiate churches the Canons have their stalls arranged in this way.
If the Blessed Sacrament is reserved at the High Altar there is generally a communion rail between the nave and the choir. This should be of a convenient height, so that people can kneel at it to receive Holy Communion. Hanging from it, on the altar side, is the communion cloth of white linen, which people hold under the chin when they make their Communion.
Beyond the choir is the sanctuary. Often there is no mark in the building to show the line of separation between the choir and sanctuary. It is indeed better that there should not be a step here, since the ministers have to walk frequently from the choir to the sanctuary. Constantly to step up and down takes from the dignity of the ceremonies, and the step maybe inconvenient to ministers in vestments. The sanctuary is merely the end (normally the East end) of the choir near the High Altar. It is counted as beginning about where the seats or stalls of the choir end on that side.
The chief object in the sanctuary is the altar[4] in the
- ↑ In the rite of baptism the first part takes place in the Narthex ("ad limen ecclesiae " in the English Ordo administrandi, rubric 52, p. 13). Then, after the child has entered the church, an exorcism is said "antequam accedat ad baptisterium " {ib., p. 22, No. 12).
- ↑ The old liturgical books constantly suppose Mass said in the baptistery (for instance, the Gelasian Sacramentary, ed. H. A. Wilson, pp. 142-143). The great baptisteries in Italy all have altars.
- ↑ The Roman Ritual (and our Ordo administr.) sometimes calls the font " baptisterium " (rubric 30).
- ↑ Full information about the altar and its arrangement will be found in Van der Stappen, iii, pp. 17-114. Cod. c. 1197-1202.
