Illustrated Dictionary of British Churches - Ambulatory Definition

History and Architecture

Ambulatory

Literally a place for walking, an ambulatory is a covered passage. Such passages are found around the outside of monastic cloisters, but in church architecture the term usually refers to a walkway behind the high altar, linking it with chapels at the east end of the church and with aisles either side of the chancel. On the continent ambulatories were often apsidal (curved) in shape, while in England they were more commonly squared, with right-angle corners.

Related: Altar   Chancel  




National Trust

National Trust membership

National Trust membership

Free entry to National Trust properties throughout England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, plus discounted admission to National Trust for Scotland properties.

Membership details

About the National Trust


HISTORY CORNER
Name the mystery historic attraction
See larger image



This exhibition hall was built to serve as the centrepiece for the Great Exhibition of 1851



19 March, 1284

Statute of Rhuddlan

The statute set the standard for laws and administration in Wales, under English control

Daughter of James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise



Passionate about British Heritage!