Bible Encyclopedias
Altar-Rails

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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Dictionaries
American Church Dictionary
• Altar Rail
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Rail, Altar
• Altar Rail
Encyclopedias
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Altar-Rails
• Rails of the Altar
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Altar Rail

The part of the church where the communion-table or altar stood in the ancient churches was divided from the rest of the church by rails. Eusebius says the rails were of wood, curiously and artificially wrought in the form of net-work, to make the enclosure inaccessible to the multitude. These the Latins called cancelli, and hence our English word chancel (q.v.). According to Synesils, to lay hold of the rails is equivalent to taking sanctuary or refuge at the altar. Altar-rails are almost uniformly found in Episcopal churches in England.