A cruciform church is a church whose plan takes the shape of a cross. The shape arises because the long nave is cut through by a transept. The point where the two meet is the crossing.
The parts
- Nave — the long axis, where the congregation sits
- Transept — the crossing arm, often with its own entrance and side chapels
- Crossing — the intersection of the two, carried on four heavy crossing piers
- Chancel or choir — the part beyond the crossing, historically the domain of the clergy
- Crossing tower — a tower standing over the crossing
Latin cross and Greek cross
The proportions determine the type:
| Type | Proportion | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Latin cross | One arm (the nave) longer than the other three | The classic western church plan, directed towards the chancel |
| Greek cross | Four arms of equal length | A centralised plan; the emphasis is on the middle, not on a length direction |
The Latin cross dominates Romanesque and Gothic church building in western Europe. The Greek cross belongs above all to the Byzantine tradition and to Renaissance centralised buildings.
Structurally speaking
The crossing is the most heavily loaded point of the building. Four vaults meet there, and often a tower stands on top as well. The crossing piers are therefore noticeably more massive than the other piers. Settlement and cracking around the crossing is a well-known and serious defect in old churches: it is the point where the most weight rests on the smallest footprint.
Besides its symbolic role, the transept has a practical one: it creates extra space close to the altar, provides room for side altars and chapels, and brings in additional daylight because two more gable walls with windows are created.
Related terms
- Crossing tower
- Transept
- Crossing in construction
- Choir
- Greek cross
- Basilica
- Parts of a church
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