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In Western ecclesiastical architecture, a cathedral diagram is a floor plan showing the sections of walls and piers, giving an idea of the profiles of their columns and ribbing. Light double lines in perimeter walls indicate glazed windows. Dashed lines show the ribs of the vaulting overhead. By convention, ecclesiastical floorplans are shown map-fashion, with north to the top and the liturgical east end to the right.

Many abbey churches have floorplans that are comparable to cathedrals, though sometimes with more emphasis on the sanctuary and choir spaces that are reserved for the religious community. Smaller churches are similarly planned, with simplifications.

Design

Cathedral floorplans are designed to provide for the liturgical rites of the church.^[1] Before the legalization of Christianity by Emperor Constantine, Christians worshiped in private homes or in secretive locations.^[2] Once legally able to publicly worship, the local congregations adapted the available Roman designs to their needs. Unlike the Roman and Greek religions, where priests performed rituals without public participation, Christian worship involved the believers. Thus, the limited spaces typically used in pagan temples were not suitable to Christian worship.^[2] Roman civic buildings were designed for the participation of the citizens of the city, and thus the Roman Basilica was adopted for Christian purposes. This included an entry on one end of a long narrow, covered space with a raised dais at the other end. Upon the dais, public officials would hear legal cases, or expound on some matter of public interest.^[2] Christians adopted the long hall of the basilica for the public liturgy of the Mass.^{[citation needed]}

Glossary

Aisle: A pair of walkways that are parallel to the primary public spaces in the church, e.g. nave, choir and transept. The aisles are separated from the public areas by pillars supporting the upper walls, called an arcade.^[3]
Ambulatory: A specific name for the curved aisle around the choir^[2]
Apse: The end of the building opposite the main entry. Often circular, but it can be angular or flat. In medieval traditions, it was the east end of the building.^[3]
Buttress: Large stone pier holding the roof vaults in place.^[3] A buttress may be visible as in the Gothic flying buttress, or it may be hidden in the complex of aisles and galleries.^[2]
Cathedral: The home church of a bishop, which contains the cathedra or bishop's chair.^[2] The church may be of any size.^[3]
Chapel: A smaller spaces inside a church that has its own altar
- Lady chapel a chapel dedicated to "Our Lady", Mary, mother of Jesus
- Radiating Chapels: Located around the Apse of the church, accessible from the Ambulatory.^[2]
Choir (or Quire): The part of 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.^[3] 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.^[4]
Crypt: Usually the below ground foundation. Used for burial or as a chapel.^[3]
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.^[2]
Narthex: The entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave.
Nave: The primary area of public observance of the Mass.^[3] It is generally the largest space, and located between the narthex and sanctuary.
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.^[2] 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.^[3]

References

^ French Cathedrals, René Jacques; Translated by Dorothy Plummer; Wilhelm Andermann, Munich, 1959
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ The Cathedral, Course Guidebook; William R. Cook, State University of New York at Geneseo; The Great Courses, The Teaching Company; Chantilly, VA; 2010
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Cathedral, The Story of Its Construction; David Macaulay; The Trumpet Club; New York City; 1973
^ Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Concise Edition; David B. Guralnik, General Editor; Simon and Schuster; New York City; 1979

External links

"Romanesque and Gothic Architecture Plans", www.owlnet.rice.edu, Rice University, Humanities Electronic Studio Project, HART, archived from the original on 24 June 2009
Salisbury Cathedral floor plan Archived 2008-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
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 Archived July 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

[FreCath-1] French Cathedrals, René Jacques; Translated by Dorothy Plummer; Wilhelm Andermann, Munich, 1959

[Cook-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ The Cathedral, Course Guidebook; William R. Cook, State University of New York at Geneseo; The Great Courses, The Teaching Company; Chantilly, VA; 2010

[Macaulay-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Cathedral, The Story of Its Construction; David Macaulay; The Trumpet Club; New York City; 1973

[4] Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Concise Edition; David B. Guralnik, General Editor; Simon and Schuster; New York City; 1979

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Floor plan showing sections of walls and piers}}
-[[File:Amiens cathedral floorplan.JPG|thumb|right|300px|[[Amiens Cathedral]] floorplan: massive piers support the west end towers; transepts are abbreviated; seven radiating chapels form the ''[[chevet]]'' reached from the [[ambulatory]]]]
+[[File:Amiens cathedral floorplan.JPG|thumb|right|370px|[[Amiens Cathedral]] floorplan: massive piers support the west end towers; transepts are abbreviated; seven radiating chapels form the ''[[chevet]]'' reached from the [[ambulatory]]]]
-In Western [[ecclesiastical architecture]], a '''cathedral diagram''' is a [[floor plan]] showing the sections of walls and piers, giving an idea of the profiles of their columns and ribbing. Light double lines in perimeter walls indicate glazed windows. Dashed lines show the ribs of the [[Vault (architecture)|vaulting]] overhead. By convention, ecclesiastical floorplans are shown map-fashion, with north to the top and the liturgical east end to the right.
+In Western [[ecclesiastical architecture]], a '''cathedral diagram''' is a [[floor plan]] showing the sections of walls and piers, giving an idea of the profiles of their columns and ribbing. Light double lines in perimeter walls indicate glazed windows. Dashed lines show the ribs of the [[Vault (architecture)|vaulting]] overhead. By convention, ecclesiastical floorplans are shown map-fashion, with north to the top and the [[liturgical]] east end to the right.
 Many abbey churches have floorplans that are comparable to cathedrals, though sometimes with more emphasis on the sanctuary and choir spaces that are reserved for the religious community. Smaller churches are similarly planned, with simplifications.
 ==Design ==
-Cathedral floorplans are designed to provide for the [[liturgical rites]] of the church.<ref name=FreCath>French Cathedrals, René Jacques; Translated by Dorothy Plummer; Wilhelm Andermann, Munich, 1959</ref>  Before the legalization of Christianity by Emperor [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]], Christians worshiped in private homes or in secretive locations.<ref name=Cook>The Cathedral, Course Guidebook; William R. Cook, State University of New York at Geneseo; The Great Courses, The Teaching Company; Chantilly, VA; 2010</ref> Once legally able to publicly worship, the local churches adapted the available [[ancient Rome|Roman]] designs to their needs.  Unlike the Roman and [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] religions, where priests performed rituals without public participation, Christian worship involved the believers.  Thus, the limited spaces used in pagan temples were not suitable to Christian worship.<ref name=Cook/>
+Cathedral floorplans are designed to provide for the [[liturgical rites]] of the church.<ref name=FreCath>French Cathedrals, René Jacques; Translated by Dorothy Plummer; Wilhelm Andermann, Munich, 1959</ref>  Before the legalization of Christianity by Emperor [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]], Christians worshiped in private homes or in secretive locations.<ref name=Cook>The Cathedral, Course Guidebook; William R. Cook, State University of New York at Geneseo; The Great Courses, The Teaching Company; Chantilly, VA; 2010</ref> Once legally able to publicly worship, the local congregations adapted the available [[ancient Rome|Roman]] designs to their needs.  Unlike the Roman and [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] religions, where priests performed rituals without public participation, Christian worship involved the believers.  Thus, the limited spaces typically used in pagan temples were not suitable to Christian worship.<ref name=Cook/>
-Roman civic buildings were designed for the participation of the citizens of the city, and thus the Roman [[Basilica]] was adopted for Christian purposes.  This included an entry on one end of a long narrow, covered space with a raised [[dais]] at the other end.  Upon the dais, public officials would hear legal cases, or expound on some matter of public interest.<ref name=Cook/> Christians adopted the long hall of the basilica for the public [[liturgy]] of the [[Mass]].
+Roman civic buildings were designed for the participation of the citizens of the city, and thus the Roman [[Basilica]] was adopted for Christian purposes.  This included an entry on one end of a long narrow, covered space with a raised [[dais]] at the other end.  Upon the dais, public officials would hear legal cases, or expound on some matter of public interest.<ref name=Cook/> Christians adopted the long hall of the basilica for the public [[liturgy]] of the [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]].{{Citation needed|date = September 2019}}
-With the legalization of Christianity in 311 A.D., the church adopted a political structure that mimicked the Roman world.  The designation of [[Bishops]] began at that time and the designation of his cathedra or Cathedral.<ref>Second Ecumenical Council, Canon II</ref>
-==Dictionary==
+==Glossary==
-* '''[[Aisle]]''': A pair of walkways that are parallel to the primary public spaces in the church, e.g. nave, choir and transept. The aisles are separated from the public areas by pillars supporting the upper walls, called an arcade.<ref name=Macaulay>Cathedral, The Story of Its Construction; David Macaulay; The Trumpet Club; New York City, New York; 1973</ref>
+* [[Aisle]]: A pair of walkways that are parallel to the primary public spaces in the church, e.g. nave, choir and transept. The aisles are separated from the public areas by pillars supporting the upper walls, called an arcade.<ref name=Macaulay>''Cathedral, The Story of Its Construction''; David Macaulay; The Trumpet Club; New York City; 1973</ref>
-* '''[[Ambulatory]]''': A specific name for the curved aisle around the choir<ref name=Cook/>
+* [[Ambulatory]]: A specific name for the curved aisle around the choir<ref name=Cook/>
-* '''[[Apse]]''': The end of the building opposite the main entry.  Often circular, but it can be angular or flat. In medieval traditions, it was the east end of the building.<ref name=Macaulay/>
+* [[Apse]]: The end of the building opposite the main entry.  Often circular, but it can be angular or flat. In medieval traditions, it was the east end of the building.<ref name=Macaulay/>
-* '''[[Buttress]]''':  Large stone pier holding the roof vaults in place.<ref name=Macaulay/> A buttress may be visible as in the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[flying buttress]], or it may be hidden in the complex of aisles and galleries.<ref name=Cook/>
+* [[Buttress]]:  Large stone pier holding the roof vaults in place.<ref name=Macaulay/> A buttress may be visible as in the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[flying buttress]], or it may be hidden in the complex of aisles and galleries.<ref name=Cook/>
-* '''[[Cathedral]]''': The home church of a [[Bishop]], which contains the [[cathedra]] or bishop's chair.<ref name=Cook/>  The church may be of any size.<ref name=Macaulay/>
+* [[Cathedral]]: The home church of a [[bishop]], which contains the [[cathedra]] or bishop's chair.<ref name=Cook/>  The church may be of any size.<ref name=Macaulay/>
+* [[Chapel]]: A smaller spaces inside a church that has its own altar
-* '''[[Choir (architecture)|Choir]]''': The part of the church beyond the transept.  The area may be higher than the level of the nave.<ref name=Macaulay/>  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 [[Canonical hours|Divine Offices]] or Mass.<ref>Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Concise Edition; David B. Guralnik, General Editor; Simon and Schuster; New York City, New York; 1979</ref>
+** [[Lady chapel]] a chapel dedicated to "Our Lady", Mary, mother of Jesus
-* '''[[Choir (architecture)|Quire]]''': An alternative spelling of Choir.
-* '''[[Crypt]]''': Usually the below ground foundation.  Used for burial or as a chapel.<ref name=Macaulay/>
+** [[Apse chapel|Radiating Chapels]]: Located around the Apse of the church, accessible from the Ambulatory.<ref name=Cook/>
+* [[Choir (architecture)|Choir]] (or Quire): The part of 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.<ref name=Macaulay/>  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 [[Canonical hours|Divine Offices]] or Mass.<ref>''Webster's New World Dictionary'', Second Concise Edition; David B. Guralnik, General Editor; Simon and Schuster; New York City; 1979</ref>
-* '''[[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.<ref name=Cook/>
+* [[Crypt]]: Usually the below ground foundation.  Used for burial or as a chapel.<ref name=Macaulay/>
-* '''[[Narthex]]''': The entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave.
+* [[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.<ref name=Cook/>
-* '''[[Nave]]''': The primary area of public observance of the Mass.<ref name=Macaulay/>  It is immediately inside the front doors.
+* [[Narthex]]: The entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave.
-* '''[[Apse chapel|Radiating Chapels]]''': Located around the Apse of the church, accessible from the Ambulatory.<ref name=Cook/>
-* '''[[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.
+* [[Nave]]: The primary area of public observance of the Mass.<ref name=Macaulay/>  It is generally the largest space, and located between the narthex and sanctuary.
+* [[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.<ref name=Cook/>  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.  It usually separates the nave from the choir.<ref name=Macaulay/>
+* [[Transept]]: Sometimes called the ‘Crossing’, the transept forms wings at right angles to the nave.<ref name=Cook/>  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.<ref name=Macaulay/>
 ==See also==
 * [[Architecture of cathedrals and great churches]]
 * [[Church architecture]], including description of common terms
+*  [[List of largest church buildings]]
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+==External links==
-==External links== When tried today (12/02/2017) six of the eight external links provided no useful result
 {{Commons category|Floor plans of churches}}
 *{{citation|url=http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~hart205/Cathedrals/Plan/plan.html'| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624065547/http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~hart205/Cathedrals/Plan/plan.html|title =Romanesque and Gothic Architecture Plans|archivedate = 24 June 2009|work = www.owlnet.rice.edu|publisher = Rice University, Humanities Electronic Studio Project, HART }}
-*[http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/visitor.plan.php Salisbury Cathedral floor plan]
+*[http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/visitor.plan.php Salisbury Cathedral floor plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102072740/http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/visitor.plan.php |date=2008-01-02 }}
-*[http://www.holycross.edu/departments/visarts/vraguin/CANT.HTM Canterbury Cathedral:] several floor plans
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051123233842/http://www.holycross.edu/departments/visarts/vraguin/CANT.HTM Canterbury Cathedral:] several floor plans
-*[http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~hanly/chaucer/images/canterburyplan1a.html Plan of Canterbury Cathedral]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080207101501/http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~hanly/chaucer/images/canterburyplan1a.html Plan of Canterbury Cathedral]
-*[http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/introduction/layout Durham Cathedral Layout]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080115095233/http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/introduction/layout Durham Cathedral Layout]
-*[http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~hart205/Cathedrals/Plan/plan.html The Plans of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse and Amiens Cathedral]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090624065547/http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~hart205/Cathedrals/Plan/plan.html The Plans of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse and Amiens Cathedral]
-*[http://www.armagharchdiocese.org/html/PlanofCathedral.htm St. Patrick's Cathedral Floorplan (Armagh)]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131345/http://www.armagharchdiocese.org/html/PlanofCathedral.htm St. Patrick's Cathedral Floorplan (Armagh)]
 *[http://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/plan.html Exeter Cathedral Floorplan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720164753/http://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/plan.html |date=July 20, 2008 }}