The Church interior was originally divided into a number of spaces, the lay brothers nave, a pair of chapels, the retro choir for the aged and infirm monks. A large screen here cut off the church and there followed the monks choir, leading to the presbytery (flanked by the Transepts).

As with most Cistercian Abbeys of the period, Kirkstall was designed and built with little ornamentation comforming to the established Bernardine plan (named for St Bernard of Clairveax). It was designed, like Fountains, with pointed barrel vaults and solid dividing walls. The aisles have rib vaults, which create an open effect. The piers are moulded with an undulating outline, resembling bundles of separate shafts.

The photograph to the right shows the west door, the area of the lay brothers nave and the areas which held the flanking chapels.