St Georges Church Trail – Sunday School

03rd November 2002 – by Richard Cox

 

Items you will find in St Georges Church, Fordington, Dorchester.

 

1. NARTHEX
The entrance hall, called by some denominations the vestibule.

 

2. SEDILIA

Sedilia - The chair from which the celebrant presides at the Word of God. In some places, this may be called the President's Chair. It is usually flanked by chairs for the assisting ministers and others.

 

3. FONT

Baptismal font: A receptacle for water, used for baptism. Early Christian baptism took place by total immersion, so the baptismal font was large and generally built into the floor of a separate building. Later, particularly in northern Europe, child baptism replaced adult baptism so the font could be made smaller and was usually placed at the entrance to the church building itself.

 

4. TRANSEPT

A rectangular area which cuts across the main axis of a basilica-type building and projects beyond it. The transept gives a basilica the shape of a Latin cross and usually serves to separate the main area of the building from an apse at the end.

 

5. LECTERN

Lectern - A raised platform with railing used for reading prayers or scripture; usually located at the front of the nave opposite the pulpit; a book-stand or podium from which the lessons and sometimes the Gospel are read at the Eucharist and other Offices. Also called an Ambo.

 

6. ORGAN

 

7. EDWARD CHAPEL

 

8. CREDENCE TABLE

Credence or Credence Table - A shelf or table, usually to the right of the altar, on which the vessels and other items for celebration of the Eucharist are kept.

 

9. RETABLE

Retable: an altarpiece, decorated with painting or sculpture which stands at the back of an altar

 

REREDOS

Reredos [rear-re-doss] - Any decoration behind or above an altar; may be in the form of statues, screens, or tapestries

 

10. ALTAR

A table at which the celebration of the Eucharist takes place. It is placed in the most prominent place in the church, usually at the east end, in the choir or sanctuary, facing the main entrance to the church.

 

11. ALTAR RAIL AND SANCTUARY

Sanctuary: The area immediately surrounding the altar, often enclosed by an altar rail. In some denominations the word refers to the entire worship space.

 

12. PRIE-DIEU

Prie-Dieu - An individual kneeling bench with shelf.

 

13. CHANCEL
In classic church design, an area of pews, seats, stalls or prayer desks set apart from the nave, used by the ministers leading services and sometimes used by the choir.

 

14. PULPIT

Pulpit - A raised platform with railing used for the sermon or homily and from which the Gospel may be read; generally located to one side [usually the right side facing the altar] of the front of the nave, not in the centre as in most protestant churches. Also called an Ambo

 

15. VOTIVE CANDLE

Votive Candle - A devotional candle placed in a church or chapel; many votive candles are placed in many churches for the Festival of Lessons and Carols. Votive candles are often small, short candles in a special glass holder.

 

16. NAVE
The pew area of the church building, where the congregation sits, stands or kneels during public worship.

 

17. AISLE OR PACE

Open area of a church parallel to the nave and separated from it by columns or piers.

 

PACE

Pace - A small aisle or passage way off the main nave aisle in a church.

 

18. GALLERY OR TRIBUNE

An upper story over the aisle which opens onto the nave or choir. It corresponds in length and width to the dimensions of the aisle below it.

 

19. CENTRAL AISLE

Open area of a church parallel to the nave and separated from it by columns or piers.

 

20. SACRISTY ROOM

Sacristy - A room or rooms where the vessels, vestments, and other liturgical objects are kept, and where the celebrant, officiates, and assistants vest before the liturgy.

 

21. BELL TOWER OR ROOM KNOWN AS CARILLON

Carillon - A set of church bells; generally found only in churches large enough to have a tower or steeple strong enough to support the weight of the many bells; some of the bells may weigh a ton or more

Campanile: Italian name for a bell tower, usually one that is detached from the main building.

 

Some objects found at the Altar and the Credence table

 

1. ALTAR

A table at which the celebration of the Eucharist takes place. It is placed in the most prominent place in the church, usually at the east end, in the choir or sanctuary, facing the main entrance to the church.

 

2. CHURCH CANDLE

The use of candles on the altar is an ancient practice. It reminds us that Jesus, the light of the world, shines in the darkness of our lives.

 

3. MISSAL STAND

Missal Stand - The stand (or, in some places, a pillow) upon which the Altar Book rests when in use at the altar.

 

4. ALMS or OBLATIONS (Oblations - Offerings to God at the Eucharist. Money collected / Bread & Wine)

Alms - Money or other offerings of the people for the work of the Church.

 

5. CIBORIUM

A box in which the Host (wafers or bread for the Eucharist) is kept

 

PYX

A receptacle for reserving the Blessed Sacrament for use in Communion of the Sick.

 

6. CHALICE

The stemmed metal or ceramic cup or other vessel used to hold the Communion Wine.

WINE

Wine - The beverage portion of communion symbolizing the blood of Christ; equivalent to the grape juice used in some protestant churches. Communion wine is fermented grape juice and is therefore alcoholic. Wine and vineyards were symbols of happiness and signs of God's blessing in the Promised Land. Mixing wine and water has roots in historical practicality and theological insight. Historically, wine carried by the traveller was mixed with the water of the desert to purify it. Theologically, the ordinariness of our lives (water) is mingled with the extraordinariness of the Divine Life (wine). This also serves to remind us of the dual nature of Christ, both God and human being; and that out of his side flowed water and blood.

 

 

7. PALL

A stiffened square of linen (or other) white cloth that is placed over the chalice to keep objects from falling into the wine. The term may refer also to the cloth covering the casket or urn during the Burial of the Dead.

 

8. PATEN

A plate on which the Eucharistic wafer was placed.

 

9. LAVABO

Lavabo - The washing of the celebrant's fingers after the Offertory at the Eucharist or at other times such as when oil or chrism is used or after the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday.

 

LAVABO BOWL

Lavabo Bowl - The metal or ceramic dish into which the water is poured by the server at the lavabo.

 

LAVABO TOWEL

Lavabo Towel - A piece of cloth, usually linen, presented to the celebrant by the server at the lavabo to dry the fingers. It is presented hung over the server's left arm.

 

10. CRUETS

Cruets - Glass or metal containers for the wine and water used at the Eucharist. Cruets have handles and tops, either a removable stopper or a lid that can be raised. If the cruets are metal, it is helpful if the wine cruet has a "V" engraved upon it (for "vino" - Latin for wine) and the water cruet an "A" engraved upon it (for "aqua" - Latin for water) for easy identification of the contents. Cruets should be held in the palm of the hand with handles facing out when the celebrant or other person will be pouring, as at the Offertory. When the server is to pour from a cruet, as at the lavabo or ablutions, it should be held by the handle.

 

11. CREDENCE TABLE

A shelf or table, usually to the right of the altar, on which the vessels and other items for celebration of the Eucharist are kept.

 

12. PURIFICATOR

Purificator - A linen (or other) white cloth used for cleansing the chalice during the ablutions, or for wiping the chalice during the administration of Communion.

 

The list is by no ways complete but hopefully this will give you some insight to the items that will be found in a church near you.

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