sacring-bell
[sacring vbl. n.]
1. A small bell rung at the elevation of the host.
| 1395 E.E. Wills (1882) 5, I bequethe a chales and a pax⁓bred,..and a sacrynge belle. 1449 Churchw. Acc. Yatton (Somerset Rec. Soc.) 90 For a rop for the sacryng bell, iiii{supd}. 1502 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. (1900) II. 343 Item, for tua small sacryne bellis, tane at ane cremar. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. v. iii. (1886) 76 He heard a little saccaring bell ring to the elevation of a morrowe masse. 1846 R. Hart Eccl. Rec. 225 The sacring bell, which was rung at the elevation of the host. 1884 Sunday at Home Feb. 102/2 No latticed confessional—no sacring bell. |
¶ 2. In post-Reformation times, sometimes applied to a small bell rung to summon parishioners to morning prayers, or to mark the point in the Communion Service at which the people should go up to communicate.
| 1598 Drayton Heroic Ep. iii. 71 Who would not rise to ring the Mornings Knell, When thy sweet Lips might be the sacring Bell? 1641 I. H. Petit. agst. Pocklington 2 He hath caused a Bell to be hung up in his Chancell, called a Sacring Bell, which the Clarke always rings at the going up to second Service. 1766 Entick London IV. 75 A lantern, which..incloses the sacring-bell, to call the parishioners to prayers. |