Lectern

A Lectern (from the Latin lectus – ‘to read’) is a slanted top reading desk, designed to support books or documents making it easier to read them out aloud as in a lecture, sermon or scripture reading.

They are usually placed on a stand and are adjustable to improve posture and facilitate eye-contact as they are generally used while standing.

In churches and cathedrals there is often a separate lectern set in the Choir, originally used to hold the antiphonal book which contained the sung elements of the divine office. These lecterns were often made in the shape of eagles to represent John the Apostle. Churches in England and America sometimes also have ‘angel lecterns’.