chancel

chancel
—chanceled, chancelled, adj.
/chan"seuhl, chahn"-/, n.
the space about the altar of a church, usually enclosed, for the clergy and other officials.
[1275-1325; ME < MF < LL cancellus lattice, railing or screen before the altar of a church, L cancell(i) (pl.) lattice, railing, grating; see CANCEL]

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 portion of a church that contains the choir, often at the eastern end. Before modern changes in church practice, only clergy and choir members were permitted in the chancel. The name derives from the Latin word for “lattice,” describing the screen that during some eras of church history divided the chancel from the nave and crossing.

      This lattice is now more commonly called a chancel screen, which during the Middle Ages largely replaced a chancel rail to set the area apart. Modern churches tend to have neither screen nor significant rail, but the area is still called the chancel, and the word today is often interchangeable with choir or sanctuary.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • chancel — (n.) c.1300, from O.Fr. chancel, from L.L. cancellus lattice, from L. cancelli (pl.) grating, bars (see CANCEL (Cf. cancel)); so called for the lattice work that separated the chancel from the nave in a church …   Etymology dictionary

  • chancel — [chan′səl] n. [ME chauncel < OFr chancel < LL cancellus < L cancelli, pl., lattices: see CANCEL] the part of a church around the altar, usually at the east end, reserved for the use of the clergy and the choir: it is sometimes set off by …   English World dictionary

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