Mourner's bench a minister. In keeping with the doctrine of the mortification of the flesh, penitents do not kneel on kneeler cushions but instead kneel on the floor. Today many, but not all, Methodist churches supplant the mourners' bench with chancel rails, where Methodists (as well as other evangelical Christians) receive Holy Communion, in addition to experiencing the New Birth, repenting of their sins, and praying. Mourner's bench The mourners' bench, also known as the mercy seat, in Methodist and other evangelical Protestant churches is a bench located in front of the chancel. The practice was instituted by John Wesley, the founder
Faldstool with certain limitations. The faldstool may be covered with silk cloth in red, green or violet, depending upon the liturgical season or the rank of the prelate. In the Anglican Church, a faldstool is a desk at which a litany is recited. It also refers to the small, upholstered prie-dieux at which the British sovereign and the royal consort kneel during important religious services such as coronations and weddings. The term "faldistory" has a similar meaning. Faldstool Faldstool (from the O.H. Ger. "falden" or "falten", "to fold," and "stuol", Mod. Ger. "Stuhl", "stool"; from the medieval Latin "faldistolium" derived, through