Interactive Map
Explore Netley Abbey through our interactive map. Click on markers to learn about different areas of the abbey and view historical photographs.
Nave
A nave is the main central area of a church, where the congregation typically gathers for worship.
The nave is traditionally the largest and most prominent section of a church’s interior. It stretches from the main entrance (often through the narthex) to the chancel or altar at the far end. In many designs, it is flanked on either side by aisles separated from the nave by columns or arcades. The nave’s open floor plan accommodates the bulk of the congregation, and its architecture may feature high vaulted ceilings, clerestory windows for natural light, and decorative elements that reflect the church’s historical and cultural context.