altar cloth

English

Elizabethan Altar Cloth, St Faith's Church, Bacton

Pentecost Altar with thematic altar cloth

Alternative forms

altarcloth, altar-cloth

Noun

altar cloth (plural altar cloths)

1. A decorative cloth that is used to cover the top, front, and sides of an altar.
   • 1993, G. Thomas Ryan, The Sacristy Manual, page 49:

     With the expansion of possibilities for altar cloths and their ability to express the given seasons, we are rightly less inclined to use extra hangings (sometimes called paraments) for festivals.

   • 2010, I.S. Cooper, Ceremonies of The Young Rite, page 305:

     The altar cloths and eucharistic vessels will be placed on the credence.

   • 2015, David Yonke, Sin, Shame & Secrets:

     According to the evidence label, it was an altar cloth, slightly yellowed, about ten feet long and two and a half feet wide, with lace trim on three sides.