Acredence table is a small side table in thesanctuary of aChristianchurch which is used in the celebration of theEucharist (Latincredens, -entis,believer).
The credence table is usually placed near the wall on the epistle (south) side of the sanctuary, and may be covered with a finelinen cloth. It is sometimes tended by anacolyte oraltar server, and contains on it the implements that are used in the Eucharistic celebration, which may include the bread and wine prior to theirconsecration, a bowl,perforated spoon,ewer and towel for thelavabo and theablutions afterHoly Communion, etc. Thewafers for the communion of the faithful may be stored in aciborium, or host box (sometimes erroneously referred to as apyx). The wine and water for thechalice will be incruets. Thechalice, andpaten, covered with their cloths andveil (seechalice cloths for details) may be placed on the credence from the beginning of the service until theOffertory, at which time they are moved to the altar.
In theRoman RiteMass, the chalice andpaten, covered with their cloths andveil (seechalice cloths for details) are to be placed on the credence table from the beginning of the service until theOffertory.[1] At a Mass at which only one minister and no congregation assists, these vessels may instead be placed on the right (south) side of the altar.[2] In theLow Mass form ofTridentine Mass, the priest placed them in the middle of the altar immediately before beginning Mass.
During theOffertory, theacolyte,deacon orpriest places the sacred vessels on thealtar. The wine and water are taken in their cruets to the altar to be poured into the chalice. After the altar has beenincensed (if incense is used), two servers wash the priest's hands. The priest holds his hands over the lavabo bowl and the first server (if there are two) will pour water over the priest's hands; the second server then hands the priest the lavabo towel for him to dry his fingers. During the washing, the priest says some words fromPsalm 25. When a bishop is celebrating Mass, a larger and more ornate basin and ewer may be used to wash his hands.
After Communion, when the priest or deacon consumes the remaining elements in the chalice(s), they are rinsed out and wiped, then replaced on the credence table and re-covered by the veil.
In very old churches, aniche in the wall served the purposes of the credence table.
In theEucharist of theAnglican Communion the ritual regarding the use of the credence table varies from parish to parish and diocese to diocese. In some parishes, (typically those identifying asAnglo-Catholic) the ritual is quite elaborate, with an army of servers, a sub-deacon and deacon all taking part. In other parishes the chalice and paten may already be on the altar from the beginning of the service. Normally the server will bring the wine, water and wafers to the priest at the offertory, and then wash his or her hands.
The term credence table is not normally found in use within theEastern Catholic Churches andEastern Orthodox Churches. All of the items for the celebration of theDivine Liturgy are normally placed on theTable of Oblation. There is, however, an ancillary table on which other items, such as the lists containing the names of the faithful living and departed whom the priest will commemorate, will be placed. Other items, such asincense and a bowl and towel for the washing of hands may be there also.