Aisles 

The term 'aisle' has three meanings in Scottish church practice. The sense in which it is used here is of parts of a church building to the side of the main spaces, and with the same floor level as those spaces, and separated from them by rows of columns. Sometimes there are aisles on both sides of the church, but often on only one. In large mediaeval buildings the choir sometimes had aisles, but more recently only the nave was aisled. Sometimes the existence of aisles is apparent from the outside of the building, but not always. [see Pugin and Pugin churches, below, for other examples of aisled churches]

Cardonald Parish Church, Glasgow. This is an example of an aisled church with separate roofs for the aisles.  The central section is the main body of the church.

Aisles and transepts

 

In many late 19th and early 20th century churches there are both aisles and transepts. There may in addition be a shallow chancel or organ making the building cruciform in plan. Generally, however, the transepts have a different purpose from those in a mediaeval church, having seating on the ground floor, and often galleries. As described for aisles, there may only be a single aisle and transept, on one side of the building.

King's Park Parish Church, Glasgow, a 1930s church  with lean-to aisles and full-height transepts.