Episcopal Vocabuary

Nave - The word "nave" comes from the Latin word navis, meaning "ship," which is a traditional Christian symbol for the Church as a vessel carrying God's people through the "sea" of life. A nave is the main central part of a church building where the congregation sits. In traditional church architecture, the nave extends from the entrance toward the chancel or altar area and serves as the primary gathering space for worshipers.
 
Narthex - the entry space between the main doors and the nave. It functions as a gathering space for greeting, ushering, and transitioning into worship. In church architecture, it historically served as a kind of threshold space between the outside world and the worshiping assembly.