Bema

In a church, a transverse space a few steps above the floor of the nave and aisles and separating them from the Apse.

 

Bemah

 

Bemah Chair

Those chairs which set on a platform in a synagogue and are reserved for the Rabbi, Cantor and other officials.

Bench

A long seat, usually of wood with or without a back usually for several people to set on during services.

Beth Ha-Medrash

Minor synagogue attached to a major synagogue, used from prayer and study.

  

Beveled Glass

 

Blind Arcade

A transverse space in a church a few steps above the floor of the nave and aisles and separating them from the apse.

Blind Arch

An arch in which the opening is permanently closed by wall construction.

Blunt Arch

An arch rising to a slight point struck from two centers within the arch.

  

Boss

A projecting usually richly carved ornament placed a the intersection of the ribs, groins, beams etc or at the termination of a molding.

  

Branch Tracery

A form of Gothic tracery in Germany in the late 15 and early 16th century made to imitate rustic work with boughs and knots.

  

Brass

A plate of brass with memorial inscription and sometimes an effigy engraved on it, set into a church floor to mark a tomb.

Brattishing

A decorative cresting at the top of a Gothic screen, panel, parapet or cornice, generally in the form of openwork of a stylized floral design.

Broached Spire

An octagonal spire surmounting a square tower, the transition between being made by broaches.

 

Broken Pediment

A pediment open or broken at the apex, base or both, and the gap often filled with an urn, cartouche, or other ornament found in classical Greek and Roman architecture and derivatives, including Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival, Neoclassical, Italianate, Italian Renaissance Revival, Beaux Arts Classical styles.

Bronze Memorial

A plaque made of poured bronze which is used to honor a giver to the organization.

Brown Coat

The coat of roughly finished plaster beneath the finished in three coat plastering, the second coat of plaster applied over a scratch coat and covered by the finished coat plaster.

Brownstone

A dark brown or reddish brown arkosic sandstone, quarried and used extensively for building in the eastern USA during the middle and late nineteenth century.

Buttress

An exterior mass of masonry set at an angle to or bonded into a wall which it strengthens and supports by absorbing the lateral thrusts from roof vaults.

Buttress Pier

A pier acting as a buttress by receiving lateral thrusts. The part of a buttress which rises above the point of thrust of a vault.