AISLE

( Ala. ) The lateral divisions of a church, or of any part of it, as nave, choir, or transept, are called its aisles. (See Church .) Where there is but one aisle to a transept, it is always at the east. In foreign churches the number of aisles is frequently two on either side of the nave and choir; at Cologne there are three. This arrangement is very ancient, since it is found in the Basilicas of St. John, Later an, and St. Paul, at Rome. In England this was never perhaps the original plan. All, except one on each side, are clearly additions at Chi chester, Manchester, St. Michael’s, Coventry, Spalding, and several other churches. The last bay to the west, or that westward of the porch in the south aisle, is generally a little earlier in character than the rest. It frequently happens, too, that the north aisle is of an earlier type than the south, where there is no reason to suppose them of different dates. There is no sufficient reason a igned for this. The word has been very commonly, but incorrectly, applied to the open space in the nave of churches between the seats of the congregation.