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Episcopal Language | |
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Alms Basin: A large metal plate into which the money offerings (alms) of the people are placed before they are presented to the celebrant. a.k.a., the collection plate. Altar Cloth/Altar Hanging: : Numbers 4:11 says, "And on the golden altar they shalt spread a cloth of blue." And again: "And they shalt take away the ashes from the Altar and spread a purple cloth thereon." After that, we hear nothing more about altar cloths until 421 A.D., when we read that "the Roman ladies gave their silken dresses to make coverings for the Altars." Then we come down to the 82nd canon, 1604, of the Church of England, which orders "a carpet of silk or other decent stuff" to cover the Holy Table. The Altar Cloth or Altar Hanging is now called the frontal. It is a covering for the altar and it reaches to the floor. It is usually of the same material as the vestments and/or the liturgical color of the season or feast. It may either cover all sides of the altar, or only the front. Frontals may or may not have superfrontals, which may or may not be attached to the frontal. They fall over the top six to nine inches of the frontal. Both may be edged with fringe on the bottom and sides, preferably about two inches deep at the bottom and one inch on the sides, if done. The tradition is to have fringe in two or more colors. Embroidery is not necessary, but a Cross in the center is considered a minimum. Two or five or seven panels are correct on the frontal and may be of silk or damask or cloth of gold in contrasting color. Many frontals, where there is sufficient funding, are custom made using various art forms and designs. The tradition is that if a church can only afford one frontal, it should be red. The Altar Protector and Fair Linen are spread over the top of the frontal. An altar is considered 'properly dressed' when it has a Frontal and the Altar Linens on it. Altar Cross: A crucifix or cross which stands upon the reredos or hangs above the altar. Altar Furnishings: Candlesticks, altar cloths, the sacramental vessels and linens, and stands for the Gospel Book and the Altar Service Book. Altar Linen(s): These include the Fair Linen, corporal, pall, chalice veils, purificators, burse and veil, credence cover and lavabo towels, and the private Communion set of linens. All Altar linens should be made of pure linen unmixed with cotton. Embroidery should be done in red, white, or blue - the primitive church colors. Most prefer white only. The three cloths cover the altar top (mensa). These are (a) the cerecloth, a cloth treated to make it impervious to moisture, which is placed first on the altar; (b) the protector, which is placed on the cerecloth; and (c) the Fair Linen, the topmost cloth placed on the altar and always kept there. When the altar is not in use, it should have a dust cover (also called a Protector) over it, preferably in the color blue. This is due to the use of Sarum Blue in the Church of England to represent Mary, the mother of the Lord. It should hang on each end half way from the top of the altar to the floor. The Fair Linen is a white seamless linen cover for the altar top, used during Holy Eucharist. "Fair" means one that has been made beautiful for its special purpose, for God to see and approve. It is a symbol of Christ's burial cloth and it should be treated with great respect. Nothing should ever be placed upon it unless there is a protective cloth between what is placed upon it and the Fair Linen itself. It is traditionally embroidered with five crosses (one in the center and one at each Altar corner) for the five wounds of Christ, hangs at least eighteen inches over each end of the Altar, has a three inch hem on the ends, a one to two inch hem on the sides, hand hemmed, not hemstitched, and never machine hemmed. The embroidery should not be raised or padded, but be perfectly flat, so that the Chalice will not be tipped over when coming in contact with it. The Fair Linen should never the folded. It should be rolled when it is put away. The Fair Linen should be firm, heavy linen. Years ago, the tradition was to let the Fair Linen hang two or three inches over the superfrontal to protect the silk. In some churches, this is still done. It was also a custom in year's past to edge the Fair Linen ends with real lace, which were basted on, and removed when the linen was laundered. Altar Service Book: A large book containing the texts from the Book of Common Prayer and music for the celebrant at the Holy Eucharist and other liturgies; also known as the Missal. It is placed upon the Altar Desk, which some call the Missal Stand. Antependium: Latin for "to hang before." Ornamented cloth paraments hung before the altar, pulpit, and lectern. Applique: An embroidered ornament (symbol) applied to paraments. Aspergillum: A branch, brush, or perforated metal globe, with a handle, used for sprinkling holy water. |
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Contact Us | |
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863.688.4502 | |
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| Fax: | 863.603.4659 | |||||
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| Email: | communications@teamallsaints.org | |||||
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| Mail: | 209 South Iowa
Avenue Lakeland, Florida 33801 |
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| Address: | 202 South Massachusetts
Avenue Lakeland, Florida 33801 |
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