Illustrated Dictionary of British Churches - Statue Niche Definition

History and Architecture

Statue Niche

A recess, usually in an exterior wall of a church, made for a statue to stand. Such niches are often empty, the statues having been removed during the Reformation. One common location for a statue niche is under the gable of the south porch, directly over the doorway into the porch. Another common location is set into the corner wall of a church, near the main path leading to the church door. Statue niches are also commonly built into reredos behind the high altar, or affixed to interior columns. They often are decoratively carved, with faux vaulting on the niche roof, and have an overhanging canopy of stone. Of course a niche may not necessarily have been built to display a statue, so just because a niche exists does not mean it was a statue niche.

Related: Altar   Canopy   Reredos   Vaulting   Porch  

  • Isle Abbotts, Somerset

    Isle Abbotts, Somerset

  • Kempsford, Gloucestershire

    Kempsford, Gloucestershire

Isle Abbotts, Somerset

Isle Abbotts, Somerset




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 Christian missionery served as the first Archbishop of Canterbury



19 March, 1284

Statute of Rhuddlan

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

This king married Matilda, daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland



Passionate about British Heritage!