Final answer:
Tracery is the stone framework used to support large stained glass windows in Gothic churches.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a Gothic church, the term for the stone framework that supports a large stained glass window is b. Tracery. Tracery is the ornamental stone openwork, typically in the form of bars or ribs, used in the upper part of a Gothic window or in the decorative wall paneling. This architectural feature not only performs a structural role, anchoring the glass, but also adds to the intricate beauty that is characteristic of Gothic design. Tracery developed from being simple with plate tracery, which was more about openings cut into heavy stone work, to the more elegant bar tracery, consisting of slender stone bars which hold the stained glass in place without obstructing the desired effect of a window that lets the metaphorical light of Heaven shine through.
The flying buttresses of the Gothic era played a significant role in the structural stability of large buildings, redistributing the weight to allow for these vast expanses of glass.