DUTIES OF SIDESPEOPLE AND SERVERS
SIDESPEOPLE
‘It shall be the duty of the sidesmen to promote the cause of true religion in the parish and to assist
the churchwardens in the discharge of their duties in maintaining order and decency in the church
and churchyard, especially during the time of divine service.’
Customs: when on duty 1. If it is your duty to lay the altar, see first section in ‘Server’ below.
2. Welcome people coming to church. Smile, greet them, help them feel welcome. Assist any
disabled people, with a ramp if needed. Check if they would like communion brought to
them.
3. Give out any needed books, leaflets, bulletins.
4. Help any new people to feel at home – assure them that they can sit anywhere, take them
to a place (preferably not at the very front or very back) if they are hesitant.
5. During the service be alert to provide any assistance needed (e.g. if vicar has the wrong
hymn book).
6. Count the number of adults and the number of children under 16 present.
7. During the offertory hymn take the collection and bring it up to the communion rail. Tell the
priest or server how many people there are, and if any people need communion brought to
them. Wait for the priest to offer up the collection before returning to your seat.
8. After the priest has received communion, invite people to go to the communion rail, if
needed. (Be aware that some people do not want to take communion; let them know that
they’d be welcome to go up for a blessing, but don’t press them.)
9. Collect books etc after the service. Smile, even if the service was dreadful!!
10. Count the collection (there should be two people doing this), write down the amounts, and
put the money in its place. Also write in the book the number of people at the service, and
the number of communicants (ask the priest).
11. Put things away, and help tidy the church up.
12. If last out, ensure heating is off, lights are out and doors are closed.
When off duty –
1. Help people to feel welcome – smile, greet, welcome strangers especially.
2. Look out for strangers or single people at coffee time, and talk to them. Don’t be afraid to
make a fool of yourself by mistaking a regular for a newcomer – the vicar is worse than you!
SERVERS
Laying up
1. Place best cross and candles in their places. The cross is placed behind the altar.
2. Place the wafers (in box), cruets with wine and water, the collection plate, and any hand
washing equipment (lavabo bowl, jug and towel) on the side table/shelf.
3. Place the chalice, paten etc (see diagram overleaf) on the altar.
4. Light the candles.
Serving the president (when customary)
1. If bread and wine are brought up, receive them and offer them to the priest (or deacon).
2. Where customary, serve the priest with bread, then with wine and water.
3. Receive the offering (on the plate if available) and present it to the priest. If, after praying,
the priest gives it back, take it to its place.
4. Where customary, serve the priest with water for finger washing – have a cloth over your
arm, and pour a gentle trickle of water into the bowl.
Administering communion
1. Receive communion first.
2. Take the cup and the purificator and follow the priest. Offer the cup into the communicant’s
hands, and say “The Blood of Christ.” (Expand it if you wish, e.g. “John, the blood of Christ,
shed for you.”) Note that some people do not wish to hold the cup; in that case, place it on
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
their lips and tip it so that they can sip the wine. Note that others have kept the wafer/bread
and want to dip it in the wine, instead of sipping from the cup.
Wipe the cup after each person has sipped from it. (I try to use a clean bit of the purificator
after each person, and turn the cup a fraction before giving it to the next.)
Notice when the priest gives a blessing, and do not offer that person the cup.
If customary afterwards, when the priest is tidying up, bring water and tip a little into the cup
or plate as the priest indicates.
When all is finished, either stay in the sanctuary or rejoin the congregation.
After the service ensure the communion things are put away and dirty linen taken for
cleaning.
DEFINITIONS
Burse: Square container for the corporal when the
latter is not in use. It is made of the same material
and color as the vestments.
Chalice Veil: A cloth covering, of the same color
as the vestments that conceals the chalice and
paten up to the Offertory and after Communion.
Pall: A small square of stiffened linen, or of
cardboard covered with linen, used to cover the
chalice to prevent dust or other matter from falling
into it.
Priest’s wafer: large wafer for the prayer of
consecration and breaking of bread.
Paten: A small plate of precious metal that holds
the priest’s wafer.
Purificator: A small linen cloth used by the priest
to wipe the chalice.
Chalice: Cup of precious metal that holds the
wine.
Corporal: The linen cloth spread by the priest on
the altar for the chalice and paten to rest upon.
Not in diagram:
Ciborium: Looks like a chalice with a cover. It is made of precious metal and contains the bread
/wafers.
Cruets: Containers for water and for wine.
Lavabo bowl and towel: for washing and drying the priest’s hands.