CHIT, an instrument for cleaving laths.
CH 0111, (from xopoc. Greek, chorus ;) that part of the church in which the chttir or singers are located, and the services for the most part performed. The term is some times made equivalent to chancel, and defined as that portion of the building east ward of the nave appropriated to the priests, but incorrectly so, as the choir does not extend to the extreme east. The council of Toledo directs the priests and deacons to communicate before the altar, the inferior in the quire, and the people without the quire ;" thus making a distinction between the choir and sanctuary, or division on which the altar stood. In fact the chancel is divided into two parts—the choir, and the presbytery or sanctuary ; the former containing the singers and inferior ministers; the latter the altar, and the superior clergy. The choir was at the western end of the chancel, separated from the nave by one or more steps and the rood screen, and from the sanctuary by steps only ; it contained seats or stalls on either side. which were returned sometimes on the western extremity in front of the screen, the returns always facing the altar : in large churches, there are generally two or three ranges of such stalls rising a step or two in succes sion above each other. When there are aisles at the sides
of the choir, which is generally the case in cathedrals and the more important churches, they are separated from it either by a screen of open work, or by the stalls being carried up to a considerable elevation ; the latter method is more usual in cathedrals, where the higher stalls are canopied, and enriched with tabernacle work. In our cathedrals. the choir is situate more generally to the east of the tower, but is sometimes seen under the tower, as at York and Winchester.
The choir was originally separated from the altar, and elevated in the limn of a theatre, enclosed all round with a balustrade : on each side was a pulpit. from which the epistles and gospel were sung; as may still be seen, at Rome, in the churches of St. Clement and St. l'aneratius, the only two remaining in the original form. It was separated from the nave in the time of Constantine, and enclosed with a balustrade, covered with curtains, which were not to be opened till after the consecration. In the twelfth century, the choir was surrounded with walls.
In nunneries, the choir is a large hall, adjoining the body of the church, but separated by a grate, where the devotees chant the service.