4.
SPACES ANCILLARY TO WORSHIP.
a.
The Concourse. The concourse should be a generous foyer. It is a
place of welcome and should have that hospitable quality. It is a place of
encounter and human interaction, and not merely a transitional space. Benches
or other seating may appropriately be present. Provision should be made for
the display of religious literature and tracts, for bulletin boards or easels,
and possibly for art exhibits. See Facility Plate 27, page 37.06-93.
In some climates provision for coat storage is necessary, though
separated coat rooms should be avoided because of congestion at their access
points. Distributing coat pegs or hooks along walls is usually better.
Portable coat racks that can be deployed in bad weather are another solution.
Such racks may be stored in an usbers' room contiguous to the concourse if
such a space is programmed. Include an usher's room, in any case, room store
extra chairs; book carts for supplies of missals and other books or the Book
of Worship; and containers for yarmulkas, prayer shawls, skull caps, and shoe
racks.
In some building configurations, where movable partitions can be
incorporated, the concourse may provide good expansion of the place of worship
for festival assemblies.
b.
Sacristy and Vestry. A sacristy is a room for the preparation,
maintenance and storage of cultic artifacts and materials, and is furnished to
serve these purposes. A counter space with a sink similar to those of kitchens
has base cabinets below and wall cabinets over. Sacramental vessels, torches,
candlesticks, and supplies need storage. Precious vessels and sacramental
bread and wines and oils for Christian and Jewish rites must be in locked
storage. An undercounter refrigerator (lockable) provides for storage against
spoilage of opened wine bottles. Provide drawers for storage for altar and
pulpit fabrics and sacramental linens. Ensure space for storage of banners,
flower stands, and other decorations. An ironing board and a locker for
cleaning equipment is necessary. A sacrarium, which is a small sink with a
cover, the drain of which leads directly to the earth, is used for the
disposal of sacramental liquids. See Facility Plate 19, page 37.06-77.
The organization of the storage in the sacristy and vestry should be such
that articles associated with various denominational groups, where they
differ, can be separated and easily identified.
The vestry is so called because it is the place where the clergy
clothe themselves in the liturgical vestments and store them. The
principal storage is in wardrobes, but there are also drawers for some
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