THE OLD - Old Wirral.com

CHANCEL RELICS IN WIRRAL OLD CHURCHES
often identical. Nor can the absence of a
drain be accepted as proof of a credence,
for some piscina niches were supplied with
basins placed upon the stone ledge.
An Aumbry was a cupboard in the wall
near the altar, and was used for various
purposes. One of these was the reservation
of the Sacrament, according to the
recommendation " Upon the right hande
of the highe aultar, there should be an
amorie either cut into the wall or framed
upon it, in the whiche thei would have the
sacrement of the Lorde's Bodye the ; Holy
Oyle for the sicke and Chrismatorie, alwai
to be locked."
The Aumbry was also a convenient
place for the priests' vestments, for saintly
relics, or, in later times, for parish
registers and accounts. The word is
derived from the Latin " armarium "
meaning a cupboard or chest. Only one
survival is seen in Wirral to-day, viz., at
Backford, where there is a small recess at
the west end of the south chancel and
evident signs of the place where hinges
were affixed for the door. It was not
customary to ornament aumbries, which
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