Glossary

Arcade A line of arches and their supporting columns.

Bishop In the Episcopal Church, the clergy member who leads a diocese. The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington is the Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane.

Boss A stone ornament connecting the ribs of a ceiling, usually carved to tell a story. The largest boss in our Cathedral weighs several tons.

Capital The top of a column or pier, usually decorated with carved plants and animals.

Cathedra Seat of a bishop.

Cathedral The main church of a diocese.

Chapel A small church, or a place to worship. Washington National Cathedral has nine chapels.

Clerestory The tallest, highest level of stained glass windows in a cathedral designed to let in extra light.

Façade The outside front of a building. The Cathedral’s façade tells the story of creation.

Flying buttress A support connected with a wall by an arch, needed to hold up the high walls of a Gothic cathedral.

Gargoyle A waterspout, usually in the form of an ugly creature, sticking out from the gutter of a building.

Gothic A style of architecture with pointed arches, stained glass windows, ribbed vaulting, and flying buttresses.

Grotesque A carving on the outside of a building made to coax water off of the building.

Pier In Gothic architecture, a number of small columns grouped together.

Pointed arch In Gothic architecture, a doorway or window with a point on the top, like an arrow directing eyes upward.

Rib An arched structure that looks like fingers holding up the vaults of a ceiling. One of the Gothic elements directing eyes upward.

Rood screen A carved wooden (or stone) screen which divides the nave, or the common part of the church, from the choir and high altar.

Rose window A round window with a rose-like pattern. Washington National Cathedral has three rose windows.

Stained glass window Windows made up of colored glass forming pictures to tell stories and admit beautiful light. The Cathedral’s Space Window contains a piece of moon rock.

Triforium In Gothic architecture, a short passage above the arches of the nave and below the clerestory.

Tympanum The space between the top of a doorway and the arch shape above it.