Credence

Credence, a small table placed near the altar or communion-table, at its south side, on which the bread and wine intended for consecration are placed in readiness. In the Greek Church this is called the trapeza prothescōs, or simply prothesis, but is always placed north of the altar, usually in a structural side-chapel. Archbishop Laud was a great stickler for the credence, and pleaded the authority of Bishop Andrewes and other bishops for its use. There are ancient credences in various Anglican churches; among others, in the Collegiate and St John's churches, Manchester, and in the parish church at Ludlow, where they have been in use from time immemorial. Sometimes the place of the credence was supplied by a mere shelf across the Fenestella, or a niche in the south wall of the chancel. The term was also used for a buffet, or sideboard, at which the meats were tasted in early times before being presented to the guests, as a precaution against poison. Hence the origin of the word, which is derived from the Ital. credenzare, to taste meats and drinks before they were offered to another, an ancient court practice, which was performed by the cup-bearers and carvers, who for this reason were called in Ger. credenzer. The usage is still observed at Rome when the pope celebrates mass, some of the wafers and of the wine to be offered being tasted by the assistant ministers before they are brought to him as oblation. The introduction or restoration of credences is one of those restitutions of old usages which marked the Oxford movement in England; and they have been judicially pronounced legal ornaments of the church, as subsidiary or auxiliary to the celebrating of Holy Communion, in order to compliance with the rubrics in that part of the Common Prayer-book.