Retroquire

The retroquire of the Anglican Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew

A Retroquire (also spelled retro-choir or retrochoir) or Back-Choir,[1] is a term in ecclesiastical architecture that defines the space behind the high altar in a church or cathedral, which sometimes separates it from the end chapel. It may sometimes contain seats for the church choir.[2]

Notable example

An example of a retroquire is within Winchester Cathedral which was built between 1200 and 1230 to house a shrine for Saint Swithun.

See also

References

  1. ↑  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Back-Choir". Encyclopædia Britannica 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. ↑ "Retrochoir". Merriam-Webster. 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015. Definition of RETROCHOIR 1: the space left in a church behind the high altar or choir enclosure sometimes used as a chapel and occasionally containing a second choir enclosure

External links


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