From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishchancelchan‧cel /ˈtʃɑːnsəl $ ˈtʃæn-/ noun [countable] TBBthe part of a church where the priests and the choir (=singers) sit
Examples from the Corpus
chancel• The semi-circular chancel is covered by a semi-dome.• It has a nave, chancel and low embattled tower.• The arch between the nave and the chancel is also Norman with zig-zag ornaments.• The present church is a church of many periods, the most ancient part being the chancel.• The present church is the chancel of the original church with Norman-style pillars.• The chancel was built in 173 3.• At the far end, in the tiny chancel, the sanctuary light glowed.Origin chancel (1300-1400) Old French Late Latin cancellus “framework of crossed bars”, from Latin cancer ( → CANCEL); because the chancel was enclosed with such a framework 