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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Chancel
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1992-09-03
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467b
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12 lines
The part of a Christian church where the
choir and clergy sit, formerly kept separate
from the nave. The term originated in the
early Middle Ages, when chancels were raised
above the level of the nave, from which they
were separated by a rood screen, a pierced
partition bearing the image of the
Crucifixion. The chancel has usually been
regarded as the preserve and responsibility
of the clergy, while the upkeep and repair of
the nave was left to the parishioners.