OUTSIDE_CHURCH

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   1 TOWER            2   GARGOYLE         3   BELFRY         4   PORCH          5   NICHE

   6 GRAVESTONES      7 HEADSTONES       8 LYCH GATE       9 TABLE TOMB       10   BUTTRESS

A parish church is a familar sight in every village, town or city in Britain. Certain features are common to the older, more traditional churches.

However, these features can often also be found in more modern churches:

1   Tower- a square or circular structure rising above the church roof and sometimes topped with a spire. The tower may be centrally positioned above the central crossing of the nave and transepts, but, more traditionally, it is usually found at the church's western end.

2   Gargoyle- a carved stone waterspout directing water away form the church's walls to prevent damage. The carvings are often grotesque faces which seem to 'spit' the water away from the church. When people came to church in past years the ugly face of the gargoyle reminded them to leave any evil or ugly thoughts outside.

3   Belfry- a room in the church tower where the bells are hung. Louvred 'windows' allow the sound of the bells to carry, calling people to worship or announcing solemn or special occasions such as a wedding or funeral.

4   Porch- a covered entrance into the church, used in former times as a school room or place for conducting important civil business. Today it is often used for displaying notices connected with the life of the church.

5   Niche- an alcove in a church wall originally intended to hold a statue of a saint. Sometimes a niche over a door contained a statue of the patron saint of the church. Many niches stand empty today because the statues were destroyed during the Reformation when such images were connected with idol worship.

6   Gravestone- a flat stone covering a grave and inscribed with the details of the person or persons buried beneath it. All parishioners have a right to burial in their local churchyard.

7   Headstone- a large stone found at the 'head' of a grave and inscribed with the name, and birth and death dates of the person buried there. A short rhyme, Bible text or warning may also be found on it.

8   Lych gate- a roofed gateway into the churchyard which provides shelter for mourners. The word 'lych' meant 'corpse' in Old English, and in past times the coffin was often set down here before a funeral while the pall bearers and mourners waited for the priest to arrive.

9   Table tomb- a tomb built in the shape of an altar or table, often marking the grave of an important or wealthy person.

10   Buttress- a structure built against the wall of the church to provide support and counteract the outward thrust of the walls caused by the weight of the roof. Buttresses are sometimes decorated with niches and carvings.