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Bible Encyclopedias
Stairs
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or Respecting church stairs a few facts may be noticed. At Tamworth, where the church was collegiate and parochial, there are double stairs to the tower for the use of the several ringers before the respective services. Two sets of stairs also lead to the upper chapel at Christchurch, Hants, probably for the accommodation of persons visiting the relics, one being for access and the other for egress. At Barnack there is an octagonal early English staircase within the Prenorman tower, and at Whitchurch a similar wooden staircase of the 14th century. At Wolverhampton the pulpit stair winds round a pillar. There were usually three stairs to an altar. At Salisbury, on Palm Sunday, the benediction of palms was made on the third step; flowers and palms were presented on the altar for the clergy, and for others on the stairs only.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Stairs'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/s/stairs.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
