South Nave

The South Nave is the south-facing nave of the Mynster. It is one of four great naves (north, east, south, and west) that radiate from the chancel at the heart of the building.

First Appearance and Context

The South Nave is described when the layout of the Mynster is introduced, alongside the other naves and the chancel. At that time, the narrator explains who uses each nave and how they relate to the surrounding maths and grounds.

Structure and Features

Like the other naves, the South Nave opens onto the chancel behind an ornate screen. These screens are dark on the nave side and bright on the chancel side, so those in a nave can clearly see into the chancel while the view beyond appears opaque, giving each nave the impression of being paired exclusively with the chancel. The nave is a large assembly hall suitable for seating and standing congregants during rites.

The South Nave is noted as being larger than its regular users strictly require, a fact that nearby groups have long found irksome given their own more constrained accommodations.

Relationships and Functions

• Reserved Use: The South Nave is reserved for the Centenarians, who can reach it simply by crossing their half of the meadow from the Centenarian Math.
• Role in Rites: As with the other naves, it provides sight and sound of ceremonies performed within the chancel, including the daily aut at Provener, viewed through the screen.
• Neighbor Relations: Its generous size is contrasted with the tighter, improvised space used by the Tenners in the southwest corner of the Mynster, a long-standing point of friendly resentment.

Current Status

The South Nave remains in active use as the Centenarians’ assembly space within the Mynster and is directly accessible from their side of the meadow.