SOUTHERN TRANSEPT ARM
In the southern transept arm, against the east wall on a
platform raised by two steps (gradus), is the "altar of St.
Andrew" (alt̄ scī andreae). It is a little larger than the altars
in the aisles of the Church, but smaller than the altars of
St. Paul and St. Peter in the apses. The three remaining
walls of this transept arm are lined with benches providing
sitting space for twenty monks. A freestanding bench
(formula) in the center of the floor can accommodate five
more monks. Like the corresponding benches in the crossing,
this bench must have been reserved for the trained
singers. The layout suggests that in such cases where
professional celebrations required that the full choir of
monks be split into smaller segments officiating simultaneously
in different parts of the Church, each transept
arm was so laid out as to be capable of serving as a liturgically
autonomous station.
The southern transept arm has entrances which make it
possible for the monks to enter it directly from the Dormitory
for night services (Matins) and at daybreak (Lauds),
and from the northeastern corner of the Cloister for the day
offices. A door in the east gives access to the Sacristy. From
the Dormitory the southern transept arm could only be
reached by a "night" stairway. The draftsman does not
tell us anything about the course or the landing of this
stairway, but stairways just like this exist in the corresponding
places in the abbey churches of Fontenay (Côted'Or)
and Noirlac (Cher), France, and in the Priory
Church of Hexham (Northumberland), England (fig. 101).[54]
The traces of others, not quite as well preserved, may be
found in the abbeys of Tintern (Monmouthshire),
Beaulieu (Hampshire), Hayles (Gloucestershire), and at
St. Augustine's in Bristol.[55]
